The Burden of Proof and Its Implications for the Presumption of Innocence (A Normative Analysis of Law No. 8 of 2010 on Money Laundering Offenses)
Published:
2026-11-10Abstract
The implementation of the reverse burden of proof under anti-money laundering legislation induces normative tension with the presumption of innocence and the privilege against self-incrimination. This study examines the paradigm shift associated with the reverse burden of proof, evaluates its implications for defendants' constitutional rights, and proposes a harmonized legal framework aligning Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards with constitutional guarantees of legal certainty. Utilizing a normative legal research methodology encompassing statutory, conceptual, historical, and comparative approaches, this qualitative inquiry analyzes relevant legal norms and evidentiary doctrines. Findings demonstrate that the reverse burden of proof in money laundering offenses operates not as an absolute reversal, but as a circumscribed judicial mechanism restricted to trial proceedings, subject to judicial oversight, and strictly confined to establishing asset provenance. Consequently, the prosecution retains the ultimate burden of proving guilt, whereas the defense bears merely an evidentiary burden regarding property origin; a defendant’s failure to substantiate legitimate ownership does not systematically establish criminal culpability. The academic contribution of this research lies in the formulation of a reconceptualized model of Limited, Conditional, Balanced, and Controlled Reverse Burden of Proof Based on Human Rights (TBBT-HAM Model). This model successfully bridges the effectiveness of asset forfeiture (“follow the money”) with the protection of due process of law, while also serving as a doctrinal guide for the reform of Indonesian criminal procedure law.
Keywords:
Burden of Proof Money Laundering Presumption of Innocence Non-Self-Incrimination TBBT-HAM ModelReferences
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