Banda Aceh Prosecutor's Office Executes First Community Service Sentence Under New Criminal Code

Banda Aceh — The Banda Aceh District Prosecutor’s Office (Kejari) has executed a social work sentence against a convict convicted of child neglect, marking the first implementation of this type of punishment since the new Criminal Code (KUHP) came into effect.

The Head of the Banda Aceh Prosecutor’s Office, Bobbi Sandri, stated on Tuesday that the convict, identified by the initials WA (39), underwent social work at the Al Hidayah Grand Mosque in Gampong Peurada, Syiah Kuala District, Banda Aceh.

“WA was sentenced to 100 hours of social work, consisting of cleaning the mosque. This implementation of social work is the first under the new KUHP legislation,” he said.

Bobbi explained that the social work is carried out by cleaning the mosque for five hours per day, for a maximum of 10 days per month. The execution of the sentence is designed so as not to disrupt the convict’s other activities, such as employment or other obligations.

According to Bobbi, social work serves as an alternative sentencing method that does not always require imprisonment. He expressed hope that the punishment would provide a deterrent effect while serving as a means for the convict to reform his behaviour.

Meanwhile, the Village Head (Keuchik) of Gampong Peurada, Musa, stated that his office is also supervising the implementation of the social work. Although the convict is not a resident of Gampong Peurada, he is currently domiciled in the village.

Previously, the Banda Aceh District Court panel of judges sentenced WA to 100 hours of social work after he was proven to have neglected his biological child.

Jamaluddin, a spokesperson for the Banda Aceh District Court, noted that this ruling is the first of its kind handed down by the court since the introduction of the alternative sentencing system under the new Criminal Code. He added that while the judges initially imposed a four-month prison sentence, the punishment was converted into 100 hours of social work.

He further noted that the application of social work demonstrates that law enforcement can proceed alongside rehabilitation efforts without undermining the fundamental objectives of criminal punishment.