JAKARTA - The House of Representatives officially ratified the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Republic of Indonesia and the Swiss Confederacy on Tuesday (14/7).
According to the Indonesia-Swiss MLA Bill Special Committee Chairman Ahmad Sahroni, the agreement aims to eradicate corruption and bring back proceeds of crime from Switzerland.
“The law can also be used to fight tax crimes,” Mr Sahroni said as quoted from Koran Tempo.
The agreement, he added, stipulates legal assistance including tracing; asset freezing; bringing witnesses; requests for documents, recordings, and other evidence; handling of goods and assets; and information.
Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said the agreement aims to improve cooperation in handling fiscal crimes, corruption, and money-laundering. “The prevention and eradication of trans-national crimes require bilateral and multilateral cooperation in terms of investigation, prosecution, examination at trial, and sentencing,” he said. (MS)