Former Deputy Attorney General implicated in money laundering probe dating back to 2018

A preliminary hearing has brought to light allegations of money laundering against Febrie Adriansyah, the former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes. The court heard that Adriansyah is suspected of engaging in money laundering activities over the past eight years, with the alleged criminal acts dating back to 2018.

During the hearing at the South Jakarta District Court, Presiding Judge Richard Edwin Basoeki addressed the complexities of applying criminal law when offenses span different legislative periods. Adriansyah's legal team had argued against the application of certain articles in the Criminal Code, citing changes in legislation. The judge explained the principle of 'lex favoreo' or 'lex mitior,' which dictates that if a new law is enacted after a crime is committed, the new law applies unless the old law is more favorable to the offender.

The judge further elaborated that the application of inter-temporal criminal law requires a careful comparison between old and new provisions, not automatic or partial application. The prosecution's suspect designation letter for Adriansyah indicated that the alleged money laundering activities occurred between 2018 and 2026. This timeframe means the investigation spans periods both before and after the enactment of Indonesia's new National Criminal Code.

Consequently, determining the applicable criminal code and penalties requires a detailed analysis. The court must first identify which specific acts occurred before January 2, 2026, and which occurred after. It then needs to compare the elements and penalties under the old and new laws to ascertain which set is more favorable to the defendant. The judge emphasized that the designation of a suspect does not equate to a conviction; the investigators have not yet finalized which legal norms will form the basis for a guilty verdict.