Yusril: Government Awaits DPR to Finalise Asset Forfeiture Bill

The government, represented by Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has deferred to the House of Representatives (DPR) regarding the deliberation of the Asset Forfeiture Bill. However, Minister Yusril cautioned the DPR to be careful in drafting the bill. “The government is simply waiting for the DPR to finish drafting its initiative. Once it is ready, the President will appoint a minister to discuss the bill until completion. Currently, the government is not in a position to comment on the drafting process underway at the DPR,” Yusril said when contacted on Wednesday (15/7/2026). He asked the DPR to pay attention to Article 28G paragraph 1 and Article 28D paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution. He also reminded that the Asset Forfeiture Bill must refer to the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). “The drafting of this bill must refer to the new KUHAP as the general provisions in criminal procedural law,” he said. Furthermore, Yusril warned that the Asset Forfeiture Bill must not give rise to abuse of power. He emphasised that asset forfeiture must await a court decision. “There must be no arbitrariness and abuse of power. If assets are seized, the purpose is to secure them. Wait for the court’s decision. If the defendant is found guilty, the seized evidence is executed and forfeited to the state. If not proven, the assets are returned to the defendant,” he explained. “What if the assets are forfeited first, but the court decision finds no guilt? If the asset is money, for instance, and it has already been forfeited and deposited into the state treasury, how do you return it?” he continued. For this reason, Yusril reminded the DPR to be careful in drafting the bill so that it does not violate the principles of justice and human rights. “High precision and caution are needed in preparing this bill so that it does not violate the principles of justice, legal certainty, and guarantees of human rights protection,” he added. Meanwhile, Commission III of the DPR is continuing its discussion of the Asset Forfeiture Bill. Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman asserted that his team would discuss the bill as thoroughly as possible. He made the statement during a Public Hearing Meeting with the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradi), dismissing speculation that Commission III was rejecting the discussion of the bill. “We are going full throttle, turbo speed, in discussing the draft of the Asset Forfeiture Bill. So, it is not true that the DPR is refusing to discuss it. In fact, we have invited the best advocates who deeply understand law enforcement in Indonesia to provide their input,” Habiburokhman said during the meeting at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (13/7). Habiburokhman confirmed that Commission III discusses the bill almost every day. He noted that the discussion is crucial because the Asset Forfeiture Bill is a completely new regulation. “Why do we need to hear as many aspirations as possible regarding this law? Because this is something new. We are not making an amendment to a law, but we are creating a new law based on new thinking as well,” he said.