Indonesia seeks new corruption definition to match UN standards, President orders study

President Prabowo Subianto instructed the government to undertake a detailed examination of Indonesia’s corruption definition so it conforms with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra announced the directive at the Presidential Palace, noting that UNCAC covers a wide range of illicit activities beyond bribery, including money laundering and fraud, and leaves specific provisions to each signatory.

The proposed study will draw input from law-enforcement officials, scholars, activists and seasoned legal drafters like Romli Atmasasmita. Topics under review include how to define state and economic losses, such as under-invoicing in the mining sector and illegal fishing, and how to delineate state finances tied to state-owned enterprises. The National Economic Council, chaired by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has already approved the revision of the corruption definition in the national law. Officials stress that clearer definitions are needed to separate genuine criminal corruption from ordinary business losses.