Money Laundering Law Seen as Most Effective Tool to Probe Ex-Jampidsus Febrie Adriansyah Case

JAKARTA - The Institute of Criminology Andi Sapada, Afi Kamilia, considers that the approach to money laundering (TPPU) can be the most effective instrument to investigate cases that drag former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah. According to him, the TPPU offense allows law enforcement officials to build a stronger case construction because it is based on verifiable financial transaction traces.

Afi said the determination of the status of a suspect against Febrie Adriansyah by the National Police's Corruption Eradication Task Force (Kortas Tipikor) was previously an important step in handling the case. However, after the handling was transferred to the Attorney General's Office, Febrie's legal status changed to a witness, which created dynamics in the law enforcement process.

According to Afi, the characteristics of TPPU are different from the predicate crime because it can be processed as a delict that stands alone. Thus, investigators do not have to wait for the proof of the corruption case to be completed to develop the investigation of suspected money laundering.

"From a criminological perspective, money laundering leaves a much more structured and verifiable financial trail compared to the corruption transactions themselves. The flow of funds, accounts, assets, and financial instruments becomes concrete evidence that can be traced through financial forensic investigations," said Afi in a written statement, Monday, July 20.

He explained that this approach has long been used in various countries to uncover white-collar crimes. In many cases, law enforcement officers first trap the perpetrators through financial crimes when proving the original crime is still facing obstacles.

Afi also highlighted the transfer of handling cases from the Polri Tipikor Court to the Attorney General's Office. According to him, the change in Febrie's status from a suspect to a witness at the Prosecutor's Office is a public concern because it reflects the dynamics in the law enforcement process.

He assessed that the TPPU approach could be a way out to avoid a deadlock in the investigation. By making money laundering allegations the basis for an independent investigation, the Prosecutor's Office has the space to build a case based on evidence collected independently.

"TPPU is not just an additional delict, but a strategic foundation that can determine whether justice will really be upheld or just a legal formality," he said.

In addition, Afi assessed that the Financial Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center (PPATK) has an important role in supporting investigations by providing objective financial intelligence data to trace the flow of funds and assets suspected of being related to criminal acts.

According to him, handling the case will be a test for the independence of law enforcement officials, especially when the case involves former officials from the law enforcement institution itself.

"This case is not just about one individual, but it is a benchmark for whether the law enforcement system is able to work consistently when the party being examined is part of the system. The TPPU approach offers an objective, evidence-based legal path and has the potential to become an important precedent for law enforcement reform in Indonesia," said Afi.