HUMAS USU – To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic of Indonesia, the Faculty of Law of Universitas Sumatera Utara (FH USU) held a Scientific Seminar entitled “Optimizing the Follow The Asset and Follow The Money Approach Through Deferred Prosecution Agreement in Handling Criminal Cases.” The event, which took place at the FH Moot Court Building, was attended by academics, law enforcement officials, and Undergraduate students. The seminar was held on Tuesday (26/08/2025).

This seminar emphasized the importance of the Follow The Asset and Follow The Money approaches in strengthening the handling of criminal cases, particularly corruption and money laundering. Both are seen as complementary efforts in recovering state losses.

In addition, discussions were held on the potential implementation of Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA) in Indonesia. This scheme is considered to be an alternative legal breakthrough that is more adaptive, emphasizing asset recovery and compliance reform rather than focusing solely on prosecution. However, one of the challenges is the risk of misuse if it is not accompanied by transparent oversight mechanisms.

The Vice Rector IV of USU, Prof. Dr. Drs. Opim Salim Sitompul, M.Sc., in his remarks stressed that this seminar is an important momentum to broaden the insights of law students while also strengthening collaboration between universities and the Attorney General’s Office.

“Eighty years of the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic of Indonesia is a historic milestone full of meaning. The Attorney General’s Office has become a main pillar of law enforcement that is not only focused on prosecution, but also on recovering state losses. Through this academic forum, we hope to see new breakthroughs that will benefit the nation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. H. ST Burhanuddin, S.H., M.M., in his virtual remarks stated that DPA can serve as a modern legal instrument that offers a balance between legal certainty and effective asset recovery.

“DPA is not a form of impunity, but rather a corrective, rehabilitative, and resolutive mechanism. Its purpose is to repair state losses, encourage a culture of compliance, and prevent similar crimes in the future,” he explained.

The Head of the High Prosecutor’s Office of North Sumatra, Dr. Harli Siregar, S.H., M.Hum., also emphasized the importance of collaboration between law enforcement officers, academics, and the public. According to him, the success of implementing Follow The Asset, Follow The Money, as well as DPA, greatly depends on cross-sectoral involvement.

“This seminar is not just ceremonial, but also a forum for producing concrete solutions in the reform of criminal law in Indonesia,” he said.

Through this activity, USU demonstrated its commitment to supporting the strengthening of Indonesia’s legal system. Universities are expected to continue playing a role in providing academic studies, legal research, and developing human resources with integrity. This scientific seminar serves as real evidence that collaboration between academia and law enforcement institutions is key to creating a legal system that is more transparent, adaptive, and oriented towards justice for society.