New Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code Officially Take National Effect, Marking the Beginning of a Modern Law Enforcement Era in Indonesia
Jakarta – The Indonesian government officially enacted the new National Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) in early January 2026. This enactment marks the end of the colonial criminal justice system and opens a new chapter in national law enforcement that is more modern and just.
The Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, called this moment a milestone in Indonesian history.
“Today’s enactment of the new National Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) represents a historic moment for the Indonesian nation. Indonesia officially leaves behind the colonial criminal justice system and enters a more humane, modern, and just era of law enforcement,” said Yusril.
Yusril explained that the old Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) did not fully reflect human rights principles following the amendments to the 1945 Constitution. The old Criminal Code, derived from the 1918 Wetboek van Strafrecht voor Nederlandsch-Indie (The Dutch East Indies Code) was considered repressive and emphasized imprisonment, and therefore needed to be replaced with a system that emphasized restorative justice and human rights protection.
“The old Criminal Code, derived from the 1918 Wetboek van Strafrecht voor Nederlandsch-Indie (The Dutch East Indies Code) is no longer relevant to the dynamics of modern Indonesian society because it was repressive, emphasized imprisonment, and paid little attention to restorative justice and human rights protection. The new National Criminal Code fundamentally shifts the approach to criminal law from retributive to restorative,” Yusril explained.
Full support also came from legal practitioners. Heikal Safar, Secretary General of the Indonesian Lawyers Professional Association (Propindo), stated that the enactment of the new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka was very appropriate.
“The official enactment of the new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code in early January 2026 is very appropriate. Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code are officially enacted to uphold humane justice for all Indonesian people,” said Heikal.
Heikal added that all Propindo administrators fully support the implementation of this regulation and hope that law enforcement in Indonesia will be more humane in the future, prioritizing the nation’s dignity on the global stage.
“I hope that law enforcement in Indonesia will be much more humane, in order to prioritize the dignity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia on the global stage,” he said.
He also emphasized that the birth of the new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code is part of a long legal journey in the archipelago, accommodating customary and religious legal values while simultaneously aiming to make the Indonesian people more prosperous and productive. ***
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