Criminal code

Criminal code

From Media Indonesia

We are witnessing an increasing number of robberies of bank
clients, murders of taxi drivers and eviction of powerless people
from their homes, not to mention the torture of suspects during
investigations.

In fact the Criminal Administration Code clearly stipulates
procedure in all areas from the investigation process to the
prosecution. The Code also regulates a suspect's rights that have
to be observed by the investigating team, prosecutors and judges
in the quest to uphold the law.

However, in practice, investigators often ignore suspects'
rights, so that it is often the case that during a trial
defendants withdraw their statements already written in the
investigation report. This only shows the weakness of the
Criminal Administration Code. The weakness may result from an
absence of sanctions for investigators who violate the code.

I am deeply concerned over the prevailing recent situations.
Whether or not torture is used during investigations, we should
not blame anybody. The most important thing now is that the
Criminal Administration Code, particularly those articles
concerning the investigation process, should be revised.

AHMAD NURULIHWAN

Banten, West Java