JakartaGlobe-Jan 2
Indonesia has formally implemented a new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Law, marking the end of a legal framework rooted in Dutch colonial rule and ushering in what the government calls a more modern, rights-based justice system. The National Criminal Code (KUHP) under Law No. 1 of 2023 and the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) under Law No. 20 of 2025 took effect on Friday, replacing laws that had governed Indonesia’s criminal justice system for more than a century. Chief Legal Affairs and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the move represented a historic turning point for Southeast Asia’s largest democracy. According to Yusril, the new code fundamentally changes Indonesia’s approach to criminal punishment, shifting it from a retributive model toward restorative justice. The new code expands alternative penalties, including community service, rehabilitation, and mediation. It also places greater emphasis on medical and social rehabilitation for drug users, a move aimed at easing chronic prison overcrowding. Local values and customary norms are also incorporated into the criminal justice framework. Several provisions in the new KUHP have drawn attention: Cohabitation outside marriage is now regulated under Article 412, punishable by up to six months in prison or a fine. However, it is classified as a complaint-based offense, meaning cases can only proceed if reported by close family members such as a spouse, parents, or children. Insulting the president or vice president is criminalized under Article 218, carrying penalties of up to three years in prison. Public demonstrations without prior notification to authorities are subject to penalties of up to six months in prison or a fine under Article 256. Read more at: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-enacts-new-criminal-code-regulating-cohabitation-and-banning-marxism#goog_rewarded
