Success of New Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code Depends on Implementation, Says Otto

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Otto Hasibuan said the successful application of the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) depends on consistent implementation.

“The renewal of national criminal law is a major transformation that shifts the paradigm of law enforcement from a punishment-oriented approach towards a system that is more humane, restorative and respectful of human rights,” Otto said in an official statement confirmed in Jakarta on Friday.

Speaking as a resource person at a stadium generale at Bandar Lampung University, Lampung, on Thursday (16 July), Otto said the success of the two regulations is not determined solely by the quality of the norms that have been drafted.

According to him, the renewal of national criminal law is built upon four main missions: decolonialisation, democratisation, consolidation, and adaptation and harmonisation.

Otto said one of the fundamental changes in the new KUHP and KUHAP is the shift in sentencing orientation. Whereas imprisonment was previously the main instrument, the criminal law system now prioritises corrective, rehabilitative and restorative approaches.

Various alternatives to imprisonment, such as supervised sentences, community service sentences and restorative justice mechanisms, have been strengthened to achieve more substantive justice.

In addition, the new KUHP also expands the subjects of criminal law to include corporations, in response to the development of modern crimes involving business entities.

Therefore, he said, synergy is needed between the government, law enforcement agencies, universities, the media and society to ensure the criminal law transformation runs effectively.

“The successful implementation of the new KUHP and KUHAP is determined not only by the quality of the norms we have drafted, but above all by the commitment of all elements of the nation to implement them consistently,” he said.

Otto stressed that the state requires professional law enforcement officers, an academic community that continues to provide constructive criticism, and a society that understands and safeguards the implementation of the new KUHP and KUHAP.