Law enforcement must remind TPPO victims about restitution

Padang (ANTARA) - The Supreme Court (MA) has asked law enforcement officials across the country to actively remind victims of human trafficking crimes (TPPO) about the restitution payment regulations in order to restore their rights.

“For TPPO cases, all law enforcement apparatus are indeed asked to remind victims about restitution,” said Chairman of the Criminal Chamber of the MA, Prim Haryadi, in Padang on Saturday.

Prim Haryadi said that based on the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), all cases can apply for restitution.

However, its implementation is still awaiting implementing regulations, but at the same time, the MA has issued a pocket book regulating restitution, particularly for TPPO cases.

“For the time being, it is indeed only for certain cases. But in the future, if referring to this KUHAP, it includes all cases,” said Prim, who is also the General Chairman of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of the Alumni Family Association (IKA) of the Faculty of Law, Andalas University (UNAND).

Although the state is present for victims, he said, the MA still reminds law enforcement to inform about restitution that can be applied for by TPPO case victims earlier.

He emphasised that law enforcement can play a role in reminding TPPO victims from the investigation stage, prosecution, prosecution up to trial, and even that right does not disappear even if the case has been decided by the judge.

“So, victims can still apply for a restitution request and it is best through the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK),” he said.

According to him, LPSK is one of the institutions that has an important role in helping TPPO victims calculate the value of losses they have suffered.

The existence of victim assistance funds becomes an important instrument to cover the gap in fulfilling victims’ rights when the perpetrator is unable to pay full restitution.

The policy refers to Government Regulation Number 29 of 2025 on Victim Assistance Funds, which is a derivative of the Sexual Violence Crime Law that provides a legal basis for the state to provide compensation to victims.