President Prabowo seeks review of Indonesia’s corruption definition

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2 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto has called for an in-depth review of Indonesia’s definition of corruption to ensure it reflects the country’s circumstances, Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said.

Yusril said Prabowo gave the directive during discussions on aligning Laws No. 31 of 1999 and No. 20 of 2001 on corruption eradication with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

“He asked for a more thorough study so we can formulate a definition of corruption suited to the circumstances facing our country,” Yusril said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

Yusril said the review was needed to align Indonesia’s national legal framework on corruption with UNCAC, which Indonesia has ratified, while clarifying provisions that may require adjustment.

He said UNCAC addresses a range of corruption-related offenses beyond bribery, including money laundering and fraud.

The convention leaves the formulation of provisions in national law to each participating country. “Harmonization and alignment are therefore necessary,” he said.

Yusril said the review team should include law enforcement officials, academics and activists. He also proposed involving experienced legal experts who helped draft anti-corruption regulations, including Romli Atmasasmita.

He said the discussions should also cover the definitions of state losses and losses to the national economy, including activities that drain national wealth, such as under-invoicing in mining and illegal fishing.

Yusril said the definition of the national economy needed further scrutiny to clarify how offenses that harm Indonesia’s economic interests should be addressed.

He also said the definition of state finances needed clarification, particularly whether state assets transferred to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and assets held by their subsidiaries still counted as state money.

“In my view, defining state finances is more important. The term has many meanings. Do state assets separated to establish an SOE, or assets held by its subsidiaries, still count as state money?” he asked.

“Clarifying what constitutes state finances is crucial to avoid wrongly targeting people who should not be arrested,” he added.

Yusril said the distinction was needed to separate losses caused by corruption from business losses incurred in commercial activities.

“Prabowo remains firm that state losses must remain an element of the corruption offense,” Yusril said.

Prabowo has approved the National Economic Council’s proposal to revise Indonesia’s statutory definition of corruption to align it with offenses covered by UNCAC.