DPR: Asset Seizure Draft Law Is Not a Tool of Repression

JAKARTA, DDTCNews — Commission III of the House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat/DPR in Indonesian) has asserted that the Asset Seizure Draft Law will not be misused as an instrument of power, despite the expansion of the categories of crimes covered under the asset seizure regime.

Habiburokhman, Chairperson of Commission III of the House, stated that asset seizure will be implemented based on the principle of equality before the law.

"We must certainly affirm that our constitution upholds the principle of equality before the law. Anyone who commits a legal violation must receive sanctions regardless of their official background," said Habiburokhman, as quoted on Monday (31/8/2026).

Habiburokhman also noted that practice in many countries demonstrates that asset seizure may indeed be applied to various categories of crimes.

He cited the United Kingdom and the United States (US) as examples of countries that conduct asset seizure not limited solely to perpetrators of corruption crimes.

Nevertheless, a supervision framework will be prepared to ensure that the Asset Seizure Draft Law is not exploited to enforce the law arbitrarily.

"What must not occur is the arbitrary enforcement of asset seizure law against the public. The Asset Seizure Law must not become a tool of power to extort the public, criminalise political opponents or silence those who are critical," said Habiburokhman.

With robust oversight in place, law enforcement officers who abuse their authority will be dealt with firmly.

"There must be a strong institution capable of taking action against corrupt law enforcement officers who abuse their power in the implementation of asset seizure, and there must be ethical, professional and criminal legal penalties for such corrupt officers," said Habiburokhman.

For information, the Asset Seizure Draft Law currently being drafted by Commission III of the House covers not only perpetrators of tax crimes but also 12 other crimes, namely:

1. corruption crimes;
2. narcotics and psychotropics crimes;
3. terrorism crimes;
4. human smuggling crimes;
5. weapons, ammunition, and hazardous materials smuggling crimes;
6. crimes in the forestry sector;
7. crimes in the environmental sector;
8. crimes in the banking sector;
9. crimes in the insurance sector;
10. crimes in the mining sector;
11. crimes in the maritime and fisheries sector; and/or
12. human trafficking crimes. (dik)