Jakarta (Indonesia), 28 February 2025 - Corruption, money laundering, and organized crime continue to pose challenges in Indonesia, undermining economic growth and facilitating illicit financial activities. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have been delivering specialized training to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement and regulatory authorities to combat financial crimes more effectively.
Fighting corruption and financial crime isn’t just about persecuting criminals — it’s also about protecting public money and ensuring justice. One way to do so is to follow the money. Using financial investigations, authorities can trace and recover assets criminals have stolen.
“The major goal of a financial investigation is to identify and document the movement of money during the course of criminal activity,” said Wai Hong Victor Lee, UNODC Anti-Corruption Associate Expert and senior investigator at Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption. “For this, financial investigation is key. Finding the origin of the money, the beneficiaries, when the money is received and where it is stored or deposited can provide information about and proof of criminal activity.”
Wai Hong was part of a training held in Jakarta this week to equip participants with the necessary financial investigative skills to combat these crimes. More than 40 representatives from key anti-corruption agencies and investigative authorities, including the KPK, the National Police, and the Attorney General’s Office, participated. Officials from agencies tackling corruption-facilitated crimes also took part, such as the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, customs and tax authorities, along with financial regulatory agencies like the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Supreme Audit Agency.
“We have only recently gained the authority to handle money laundering crime. This training opens up opportunities for closer cooperation,” said Rilisia Ardini from the Ministry of Forestry, adding that it is important to find synergies between agencies in dealing with financial crimes related to the forestry sector.
The training included a dedicated session on investigating and prosecuting cases involving large-scale asset recovery. With 554 investigators and prosecutors engaged in hybrid discussions, the session provided a large platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
One of the key takeaways was that recovering stolen money matters. Beyond punishing criminals, returning stolen funds to the country benefits everyone, as the funding can be used for public services like education and healthcare.
“Asset recovery should be a top priority in corruption eradication efforts, ensuring stolen state assets are reclaimed,” said Fitroh Rohcahyanto, KPK Commissioner. Between 2020 and 2024, KPK recovered over IDR 2.5 trillion (USD 156.25 million), including IDR 731 billion (USD 45.68 million) in 2024 alone, significantly contributing to state revenue through non-tax state income.
Experts also emphasized that financial crimes often transcend national borders, making investigations increasingly complex. A major challenge faced by law enforcement is informal intelligence sharing between jurisdictions. While Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) remains essential for evidence collection, participants learned how leveraging professional networks can expedite information exchange and enhance international collaboration.
“Problems in eradicating corruption are faced by many countries. Therefore, communication and coordination between stakeholders are key,” said Susilo Edy, KPK Investigator.
Moving forward, KPK and other law enforcement agencies will continue leveraging inter-agency cooperation and intelligence-sharing mechanisms to disrupt financial crime networks and ensure more effective law enforcement.
Click here to learn more about UNODC’s anti-corruption efforts in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Click here to learn more about UNODC’s work in Indonesia
