Law to Recover Criminal Proceeds Advances Confiscation Even When Prosecution Is Difficult

A bill allowing criminal proceeds to be confiscated even when criminal punishment of suspects is difficult has cleared a hurdle in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

While the related bill enables the recovery of criminal proceeds even when formal charges are difficult to file, concerns have also been raised about the potential confiscation of assets belonging to unrelated third parties.

The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a plenary session on the 22nd and passed an amendment to the 'Act on the Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment, etc.' The amendment introduces a system of independent confiscation for major crimes such as voice phishing, illegal gambling, drug offenses, and digital sex crimes.

Lawmakers from the People Power Party abstained from the vote. They pointed out that the provision allowing confiscation even when criminal proceeds have been inherited or gifted to a third party could lead to the forfeiture of assets belonging to individuals unrelated to the crime.