Mahfud Reveals Modus Corruption: Swapping Suitcases Plane Smuggle Laundered Money

Mahfud Reveals Modus Corruption: Swapping Suitcases Plane Smuggle Laundered Money

The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD revealed the difficulty of eradicating corruption, one of which is the crime of money laundering (TPPU). 

He said various modes were used by criminals to smuggle laundered money. 

"Because the corrupt person, sir, handed down Rp 500 billion from the bank to Singapore and exchanged it for dollars. Then he said this won gambling because in Singapore gambling is legal, then it was brought to Indonesia legally," said Mahfud during a hearing with Commission III of the Indonesian Parliament at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (29/3/2023). 

"Even though it's state money, sir, it's money laundering, sir," he said. 

Another smuggling mode which according to Mahfud is widely used is exchanging suitcases containing laundered money in the airplane cabin. 

"From people carrying suitcases, one suitcase filled with paper, one containing money was exchanged on the plane. That's what happened a lot," he said. 

To prevent such practices, said Mahfud, the Asset Confiscation Law and the Law on Restrictions on Currency Transactions are needed. 

The chairman of the National Coordinating Committee for the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering Crimes (TPPU) asked the DPR to support the ratification of the two draft laws (RUU). 

Mahfud said that the government had submitted the Asset Confiscation Bill to be processed by the DPR since 2020, but it was suddenly removed from the list of the national legislation program (prolegnas) when it was about to be included in the priority list. 

"Even though the contents had been approved by the previous DPR, the government then corrected the previous one and then agreed," said Mahfud. 

"Please through Mr. Bambang Pacul (Chairman of Commission III DPR Bambang Wuryanto), please sir, please support the Asset Confiscation Law, sir, so that we can take things like this sir. Please also (UU) support currency spending restrictions, sir ," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK). 

As is known, the government has long voiced the ratification of the Asset Confiscation Bill and the Bill on Restrictions on Currency Transactions. 

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Previously, President Joko Widodo had also requested that the two bills be ratified and processed in the DPR. 

"I urge that the bill on confiscation of assets in criminal acts be promulgated immediately and the discussion on the bill limiting currency transactions begin immediately," Jokowi said in a press conference at the Merdeka Palace, February 7, 2023. 

However, even though they have been proposed for a long time, the two draft laws have yet to progress.