Students Urge Parliament to Proceed with Caution on Asset Forfeiture Bill
The Indonesian Law Students’ Association (Permahi) has requested that the House of Representatives (DPR) discuss the Asset Forfeiture Bill (RUU Perampasan Aset) with caution. The aim is to prevent the abuse of authority by certain parties. Permahi has warned the DPR’s Commission III against rushing the process merely to respond to public demands for swift enactment of the regulation.
“Do not let this Asset Forfeiture Bill appear rushed just to provide an answer to the public, to give some relief to society,” said Lalu Reno, Head of Politics and Institutions Division of Permahi, during a public hearing with Commission III of the DPR in Jakarta on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.
Reno assessed that the discussion of the bill must be conducted meticulously and in depth so that its implementation in the future runs on target. He also highlighted the approach used in regulating asset forfeiture, which currently still refers to the in personam approach or targeting specific individuals, as stated in the new Criminal Code (KUHP).
According to him, that approach is considered to have loopholes because the state cannot execute the assets of convicted corruptors until there is a verdict. Therefore, Permahi encourages the Asset Forfeiture Bill to also adopt the in rem approach or claims directed directly at an asset without needing to criminalise its owner.
Reno explained that the in personam approach can be used by law enforcement officials in seizing corruptors’ assets, while the in rem approach can be used to recover state wealth. “As we all know, lately many individuals have interpreted phrases based on their interests, which is very dangerous,” he said.
Furthermore, Reno reminded that the implementation of the law must align with the adage that facts must be clearer than light. He emphasised the importance of discussing the Asset Forfeiture Bill with full consideration and thoroughness so that it does not become a tool for abusing authority. “The legal proverb states that it is better for 1,000 guilty people to be freed than for one innocent person to be punished,” he said in concluding his remarks.
The Asset Forfeiture Bill began to be discussed by Commission III of the DPR on Thursday, 15 January 2026. This legal affairs commission invited the DPR’s Expert Body to report on the results of preparing the academic paper and draft of the Asset Forfeiture Bill.
The DPR’s Expert Body itself has been preparing the draft of the Asset Forfeiture Bill since November 2024. Based on the interim draft, there are 8 chapters and 62 articles.
The DPR’s Expert Body views the Asset Forfeiture Bill as having urgency to be discussed and enacted into law immediately. In the sociological foundation contained in the academic paper, the DPR’s Expert Body sees that the rate of returning state losses is still low. On the other hand, there has been an increase in economic-motivated criminal acts. This is deemed to have damaged the national economic order.