Jakarta — The Indonesian House of Representatives officially ratified the Draft Law on Amendments to Law Number 8 of 1981 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) at a plenary session held at the Indonesian House of Representatives Building, on Tuesday (18/11).
Indonesian Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Atgas, representing the president, stated that the ratification of the RKUHAP (Code of Criminal Procedure Code) is crucial for strengthening national law. He emphasized that its drafting was conducted transparently and with public participation.
“The process involved various stakeholders, including academics, legal practitioners, law enforcement officials, professional organizations, legal aid institutions, civil society, and vulnerable groups. Public input was gathered through working meetings, public hearings, and national consultations to ensure the resulting formulation truly aligns with community needs and current legal and technological developments,” said Supratman.
The ratification of the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) marks a significant step in the national legal reform journey. This regulatory update is expected to strengthen human rights protection and more consistently uphold the rule of law.
With a more modern legal procedural basis, the criminal justice system is projected to become more transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of society and the dynamics of contemporary law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives, Habiburokhman, emphasized that the process of drafting the Criminal Procedure Code had previously lasted for more than a year and had garnered meaningful participation from stakeholders.
“The Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) requires updates to strengthen citizens’ position under the law. The new KUHAP is said to accommodate the needs of vulnerable groups, clarifying detention conditions, protection from torture, strengthening and protecting victims’ rights, compensation, restitution, and rehabilitation, and even restorative justice,” Habiburokhman emphasized.
One of the main focuses of the ratification of the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) is the affirmation of the principle of human rights protection. This regulation places greater emphasis on aspects such as the right to legal aid, guarantees against torture, stricter arrest and detention procedures, and stronger oversight mechanisms for the actions of authorities.
These updates are intended to ensure that every law enforcement process is conducted according to standards of justice and upholds human dignity. Therefore, the new Criminal Procedure Code is expected to guarantee that every individual, whether a complainant, witness, or suspect, receives fair and humane treatment.
Meanwhile, in the context of upholding the rule of law, the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) emphasizes the importance of equality before the law. Comprehensive legal procedural regulations aim to prevent abuse of authority and ensure that every action by officials has a clear legal basis. The limitations of the authority of investigators, public prosecutors, and judges are systematically outlined to minimize the possibility of arbitrary action.