Researcher deems Asset Forfeiture Bill discussion timely after new Criminal Procedure Code

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Bawono Kumoro, a researcher at Indikator Politik Indonesia, believes that deliberating the Asset Forfeiture Bill at this time is appropriate, now that the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) has come into force as the foundation of Indonesia’s criminal justice system.

According to him, the enactment of the new KUHAP is an essential basis for ensuring that the norms within the Asset Forfeiture Bill align with the prevailing criminal justice system, while also strengthening legal certainty in the application of those rules.

In a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, Bawono said the deliberation of the Asset Forfeiture Bill needs to be aligned with the new KUHAP, which has been in force since 2 January 2026, so that every norm it regulates carries legal certainty and consistency.

“Now that Indonesia officially has a new KUHAP that has been in force since 2 January 2026, the deliberation of the Asset Forfeiture Bill is ideally carried out at this time,” said Bawono.

Therefore, synchronisation between the two regulations is considered important before the Asset Forfeiture Bill is passed.

“The position of the new KUHAP will be the main foundation of Indonesia’s criminal justice system going forward,” he said.

Bawono regarded the shift in the deliberation schedule from the original plan of late 2025 to after the enactment of the new KUHAP as neither a form of sluggishness nor a sign of weak political commitment from the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government.

“This is a form of caution, to ensure alignment with other regulations,” he said.

According to him, a deliberation process that takes longer is perfectly reasonable, as lawmakers need to comprehensively absorb public aspirations.

Meanwhile, Commission III of the DPR is expected to continue deliberating the Asset Forfeiture Bill even as the House enters its recess period.

Deputy Speaker of the DPR Sufmi Dasco Ahmad has given the commission the green light to continue discussing the draft law during the recess, provided it obtains permission in accordance with the prevailing mechanism.

Bawono hopes the deliberation of the Asset Forfeiture Bill will produce an effective legal instrument to strengthen the fight against corruption without disregarding the principles of the rule of law.

He stressed that the regulation must still uphold the presumption of innocence, so that asset forfeiture efforts proceed effectively while providing legal certainty for all parties.