Deputy Minister Of Law And Human Rights Affirms Urgen's Assets Confiscation Bill, Touches On The Fate Of The Asset Hunter Team

Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar (DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej said that the Asset Confiscation Bill is very urgent to be discussed and passed. The Asset Confiscation Bill is said to have been in arrears by the government and the DPR for 15 years.

"Whether the Asset Confiscation Bill is urgent or not, I firmly say this is the urgent matter," said Edward Omar, Wednesday, April 7.

This Asset Confiscation Bill is a follow-up to the ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption. In his clause, Edward Omar explained, participating countries must adjust their laws and regulations within one year after ratification.

"However, until now we have not made changes in the Corruption Act to be adjusted to the UN Convention Against Corruption," he continued.

There are three objectives in the UN Convention against Corruption, namely eradicating corruption efficiently and effectively, recovering assets and international cooperation.

"In the context of returning assets, which is the goal of the UN Convention on Anti-Corruption, we will meet with the issue of confiscation of criminal assets or the return of assets proceeds of crime," said Edward Omar.

To return criminal assets, according to the Vice Minister of Law and Human Rights, it requires 4 things, namely political will, legal system, institutional cooperation and international cooperation.

"It is true that recovering criminal assets or recovering assets is not an easy matter, but it requires a lot of process, time, effort and funds. Moreover, the return on assets is not more than 30-37 percent even though it has taken a long time, ”he explained.

The Vice Minister of Law and Human Rights also touched on the previous government's efforts to seize criminal assets. In the past, the asset hunting team was known, but according to Edward Omar, the team was no longer heard of.

"When Prof. Indrayana became Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights, he once asked me to return the criminal assets in the Century case of around 6 trillion. I don't know what the fate of the asset hunting team is now, but I joined Pak Darmono, it turns out that the authorities in Hong Kong are questioning things that we cannot imagine, "said the Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights.

Problems arise because of different standards related to confiscation, confiscation or opening of criminal assets. Therefore, at this time, according to him, it is important to pass the Asset Confiscation Bill in the DPR.