PDIP Secretary General Hasto: Asset Confiscation Bill One National Legal Reform Unit

Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Hasto Kristiyanto. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Hasto Kristiyanto said the Draft Law on Asset Confiscation is a unity of national legal reform so that it cannot be separated from the strengthening of other laws and regulations.

Hasto said this was one of the recommendations produced from the PDIP national working meeting (rakernas).

"The first recommendation of the PDI Perjuangan national council is that the reform of our national political system be carried out simultaneously with legal reform, including strengthening the KPK Law, then there is a law on the confiscation of state assets, which is placed in one unit of national legal reform," said Hasto as reported by ANTARA, Sunday, February 15.

As a framework for the unity of national legal reform, Hasto explained that the Asset Confiscation Bill must be in line with the principles of fair legal process or due process of law and human rights (HAM).

"From my personal experience, the due process of law is often violated by law enforcement officers. So, enforcing the law is also inseparable from respect for human rights," he said.

In addition, Hasto also reminded, "Don't let law enforcement become a tool for power. This is what often happens."

Previously, Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives began discussing the formation of the Draft Law (RUU) on the confiscation of assets related to criminal acts as one of the efforts to maximize the eradication of criminal acts.

Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sari Yuliati, said that the bill was designed to eradicate corruption, terrorism, narcotics, and other crimes with the motive of financial gain.

"Our meeting is open to the public," said Sari when opening the discussion meeting on the bill at the parliament complex, Jakarta, Thursday (15/1).

The meeting to form the Asset Confiscation Bill was held together with the DPR RI Expert Agency to listen to the report on the process of making the academic draft of the bill.

Meanwhile, the DPR RI Expert Agency said that the Asset Confiscation Bill related to criminal acts would consist of 8 chapters and 62 articles.

Head of the DPR Expertise Agency Bayu Dwi Anggono said the academic manuscript was compiled by inviting experts as a form of public participation, ranging from legal experts from Gadjah Mada University to legal practitioners, former researchers of the Indonesian Corruption Watch.

"Why is this bill important? To ensure that the results of a crime cannot be enjoyed by the perpetrator, especially crimes in the economic motive, so that they can be recovered and break the chain of crime," said Bayu.