The Winding Road of the Asset Forfeiture Bill Debate

The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has refuted social media claims that it has rejected the Asset Forfeiture Bill, with Deputy Speaker Sari Yuliati stating that the bill is still under deliberation and has been included in the 2026 Priority National Legislation Programme (Prolegnas). On Monday, 13 July 2026, Commission III of the DPR held a public hearing with experts and student representatives to gather input on the bill’s drafting process. Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman stated that 24 community elements have been invited to provide their views, with plans to summon eight more expert speakers during the current sitting period.

The Asset Forfeiture Bill was first proposed in 2008 but faced immediate rejection. It was later included in the Prolegnas in 2015, yet no substantive discussion took place until 2020. The bill was proposed again for the 2021 and 2022 priority lists but was sidelined, with the DPR and government citing a focus on more urgent legislation, such as the State Capital Bill and the Sexual Violence Crime Bill. It was finally agreed for inclusion in the 2023 Prolegnas during a plenary session on 25 December 2022, and on 9 September 2025, eight political party factions agreed to place it on the 2026 priority list.

Habiburokhman acknowledged that the bill is a ‘hot potato’ requiring approval from party chairpersons, partly due to concerns over potential abuse of power. A key sticking point is Article 2 of the third draft, which regulates non-conviction-based asset forfeiture, allowing authorities to seize assets without a criminal conviction. Another contentious provision, Article 5 paragraph (2), targets unexplained wealth disproportionate to a person’s income. Habiburokhman stressed the DPR’s commitment to ensuring the bill is not misused, stating, ‘We are committed to maximising asset recovery, but on the other hand, we must ensure that innocent people do not become victims.’