MUI Allows The State To Confiscate Corruptor Assets In Today's Memory, July 1, 2012

JAKARTA Memories of today, 12 years ago, July 1, 2012, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) allowed the state to confiscate the assets of perpetrators of corruption. The assets that may be confiscated are limited to assets resulting from corruption. MUI then asked the government to use confiscated assets for the benefit of the Indonesian people.

Previously, corruption was increasing in the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). This condition was exacerbated by the issue of cadres of the Democratic Party participating in the megaproject corruption of athletes' guesthouses in Bukit Hambalang.

Corruption cases are increasingly eating away at Indonesia. At first, many corruption cases were seen during the New Order government. The repressive government, the absence of rules, and the weakness of law enforcers taking action against corruptors are the ingredients for proliferating corruption.

Problems arise. The problem of corruption is not easy to eliminate, even in the reform era. In the era of the SBY administration alone, corruption cases were piled up. Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) recorded around 436 corruption cases with the number of suspects reaching 1053 in 2011.

The losses suffered by the state were not small, Rp2,169 trillion. Each of the highest corruption comes from education niches, infrastructure, to regional finances. The officers were asked to do their job of arresting corruptors.

Many also asked that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) be strengthened. One corruption problem has not yet been resolved. The problem that tarnishes the face of the government the most arises in the Hambalang Project.

The project, entitled The Center for Education and Training of the National Sports School (P3SON), is considered Indonesia's hope of fostering athletes. The project, known as the Hambalang Project, began from 2009.

Instead of projects with funds from Rp. 125 billion to Rp. 2.5 trillion, the construction of Hambalang actually has many irregularities. The circulation of a lot of money has made many politicians look for profit.

Uniquely, the cadres of the ruling Democratic party are considered to be involved. This condition became clearer when the former treasurer of the Democratic Party, Nazaruddin, was arrested in Colombia. Nazaruddin then tweeted a lot about his fellow Democratic cadres involved, including the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Anas Urbaningrum.

"This arrest is the result of cooperation between Interpol, Police, KPK, Immigration, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Physically, based on observations with photos, he is identical to the so-called Nazaruddin," said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto quoted on the Kompas.com website, August 8, 2011.

Corruption in Indonesia is worrying. The presence of corruption is considered to have a bad influence on the image of the country and the future of the nation's next generation. It is possible that corruption is considered the right part because it is allowed to continue.

Many people are concerned. MUI, one of them. MUI thinks that corruption can damage the country. They think that there must be strict punishment so that corruption does not run rampant. Their prison sentence is considered insufficient.

MUI then allowed the state to confiscate the assets of the corruptors on July 1, 2012. The confiscation is considered a better option. All kinds of money and assets obtained from the proceeds of corruption can later be used by the state to build the country.

The confiscated assets are limited to the proceeds of corruption. Not a form of inheritance or anything else. Also corruptors are more afraid of losing their wealth, than losing their means of shame.

"This asset confiscation does not eliminate punishment. For example, legal inheritance or other income still belongs to that person. This one is also taken by the state. We remind you here. Confiscation of corruptors' assets does not eliminate the punishment for the perpetrators of these crimes. These corruptors must still get punishment. "

"This asset of corruptors can then be used for the benefit of the community. The recipient of money from money laundering but he did not know that the money was from the proceeds of the crime and he returned it was not subject to punishment," said Secretary of the MUI Fatwa Commission, Asrorun Ni'am at the Ijtima Ulama event of the IVth MUI Fatwa Commission at the Cipasung Islamic Boarding School, Tasikmalaya, West Java, as quoted by Detik.com page, July 1, 2012.