Mahfud MD Reveals The Fear Of Corruptors: Not Prison But Poverty

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD/ANTARA HO Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the synergy between the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was necessary to prevent money laundering (TPPU).

The collaboration of these two institutions, he continued, is believed to be able to help the state pursue all assets suspected of being related to corruption cases. Therefore, efforts to eradicate corruption can be said to be successful if it is accompanied by the restoration of state assets.

"The role of the KPK and the role of the financial transaction reporting and analysis center or PPATK in global collaboration is very necessary," said Mahfud when he was a keynote speaker at the Kick Off G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group event which was broadcast on the KPK RI YouTube channel, Friday, March 4.

"Returning assets resulting from criminal acts of corruption is one indicator of the success of efforts to eradicate corruption in Indonesia," he added.

Mahfud said that he often received reports from PPATK about the transfer of assets resulting from corruption from within to abroad. Therefore, efforts to confiscate assets from the perpetrators of corruption must be carried out.

Moreover, these criminals are actually not afraid of imprisonment. According to Mahfud, there are other things that are actually more feared by the perpetrators of corruption, namely the confiscation of property which makes them poor.

"What the corruptors fear is not prison, but poverty. It is as if prison is not a problem for them as long as their wallets are thick, their children and wives are still living comfortably, they can still travel abroad," he said.

Therefore, Mahfud hopes that the steps for confiscation of assets can be pursued by law enforcement officials so that assets resulting from corruption that are hidden cannot be used but return to the state to replace the losses incurred.

"This must be followed up nationally, regionally, or through international forums such as the G20 momentum," he said.

"This effort is expected to detect modes of asset concealment, such as the mode of international trade transactions, cash smuggling mode, stock trading mode, and so on," concluded Mahfud.