The Indonesian authorities have decided to seriously strengthen their fight against corruption. President Prabowo Subianto stated that he supports the law on asset confiscation from corrupt officials and demanded its swift adoption. The head of state made it clear that compromises will not be tolerated with those who have stolen money from the country, and therefore from the people.
"In the fight against corruption, I support the adoption of the law on asset confiscation. Stole it and don't want to give it back? I'll just take it! Agreed?" Prabowo asked the crowd at a rally celebrating International Workers' Day in Jakarta. The response was applause and approving murmurs.
This initiative was also supported by the Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Johanis Tanak. He noted that the adoption of the asset confiscation bill is not just a political gesture but a real tool for strengthening anti-corruption efforts in the country, which will help more effectively return stolen funds to the state.
The current legislation, says the official, does not allow full recovery of losses from corruption-related crimes.
"In 34 years of work as a prosecutor, I've seen how difficult it is to recover money through the existing laws. Much remains lost. If the confiscation law is passed, we can achieve the return of all damages — even those previously unrecoverable," Tanak added.
According to him, implementing the law will initiate the process of restoring state finances. This, in turn, will help channel funds towards the country's development — from infrastructure to healthcare.
Indonesia is a country where theft within government institutions has long been a painful issue. Often, officials caught in corruption would serve their sentences, but the stolen funds remained hidden.
Now, the situation could change. The new law, if adopted, will allow for the seizure of assets acquired through criminal means, even if a direct link to a specific case cannot be proven by the court. In other words, if a person cannot explain the origin of their assets, the state will be able to confiscate them.
The asset confiscation bill (RUU Perampasan Aset) has been under discussion for several years. Support at the presidential level could be the decisive step for the document to finally be adopted.
In addition to the president and the Corruption Eradication Commission, the initiative is also supported by representatives of human rights organizations, lawyers, and economists. They believe that such a law will not only be a tool for the return of funds but also act as a deterrent to future crimes.
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