Otto: New Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code Shift Legal Paradigm

Deputy Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Otto Hasibuan stated that the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) prioritise prevention, rehabilitation of offenders, and the restoration of victims’ rights. “Essentially, there is a paradigm shift through the new KUHP followed by adjustments in the KUHAP, different from before,” Otto said after speaking on Indonesia’s criminal justice system at the University of Jambi on Thursday. According to the Deputy Minister, there are three main principles that serve as pillars in the transformation of the new criminal justice system. He explained that the first principle emphasises preventing people from committing crimes through a corrective approach. The third principle focuses on restoring victims’ rights through a restorative justice approach. Otto gave an example that imprisonment for a theft offender does not always provide direct recovery for the victim. Therefore, the new law prioritises reconciliation and compensation so that the victim’s rights can be restored. He assessed that the seminar is part of an effort to socialise the new legal paradigm to the public and law enforcement officials, including advocates. “Our legal paradigm has changed. This is what we need to socialise to the public,” Otto said.