Expert says asset-seizure powers must be entrusted to credible institutions

Indonesia’s proposed Asset Confiscation Bill would grant significant powers, but legal expert Shri Hardjuno Wiwoho says those powers will only be safe in the hands of trusted institutions and officials.

Speaking at a public hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission III in Jakarta on Monday, September 7, 2026, Wiwoho said lawmakers must closely scrutinize the people who would exercise the authority. “What is most important, and what the House must oversee, is that the people in the authorized institutions must truly be trustworthy,” he said.

He also called for oversight to prevent abuse of power in the management of seized assets. The warning came as lawmakers discuss legislation that would establish a framework for confiscating assets.

Wiwoho said public demands for the bill’s swift passage have grown because people are angry about corruption and various cases involving abuse of authority. In his view, that public anger also highlights the need to restore trust in law enforcement.

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What is most important, and what the House must oversee, is that the people in the authorized institutions must truly be trustworthy.