Indonesian Lawmakers Propose 13 Crimes for Asset Forfeiture Bill

Indonesia’s draft Asset Forfeiture Bill could cover 13 categories of crime, from corruption and drug offenses to environmental violations and human trafficking.

The proposal came from House of Representatives Commission III, whose chairman, Habiburokhman, said the listed offenses would be subject to asset-forfeiture provisions. The categories also include terrorism, human smuggling, weapons trafficking, forestry, taxation, banking, insurance, mining, and maritime and fisheries offenses.

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Anyone who violates the law must face sanctions regardless of their position or background.

Habiburokhman acknowledged concern that ordinary citizens could lose assets even when they are not government officials. He said the Constitution requires equality before the law and argued that anyone who violates the law must face sanctions regardless of position or background.

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The Asset Forfeiture Law must not become a tool of power to extort people, criminalize political opponents or silence those who are critical.

At the same time, he warned that the proposed law must not become a tool for extortion, political retaliation or silencing critics. “The Asset Forfeiture Law must not become a tool of power to extort people, criminalize political opponents or silence those who are critical,” he said.

Commission III is seeking safeguards and oversight for the bill’s implementation. Habiburokhman said authorities would need a strong institution to investigate law-enforcement officials who abuse their powers. Officials found responsible, he said, should face ethical, professional or criminal sanctions where applicable. “In short, the implementation of the Asset Forfeiture Law requires clean and credible law enforcement officials,” he said.

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In short, the implementation of the Asset Forfeiture Law requires clean and credible law enforcement officials.