Ratification of the Criminal Procedure Code Becomes the Main Foundation of a Modern Criminal Justice System

Jakarta – The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) officially ratified the Draft Law on the Criminal Procedure Code (RUU KUHAP) into law during the 18th Plenary Session of the Second Session of the 2025–2026 Session Year. The government gave its full approval and emphasized that this new regulation is the main foundation for a modern criminal justice system in Indonesia.

Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas stated that President Prabowo Subianto firmly approved the ratification of the bill. This approval was conveyed when he read out the government’s views at a plenary session of the DPR.

“The President expressed his highest appreciation and gratitude to the leadership and all members of the DPR who have completed discussions on the revision of the KUHAP,” Supratman said.

Supratman explained that the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), which has been in effect since 1981, is a significant milestone in Indonesian legal history because it replaced the colonial rule of law (HIR) and affirmed the foundation of the rule of law based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

However, after more than four decades, social change, advances in information technology, and the emergence of various new forms of crime have made reform imperative.

According to him, criminal procedural law must be able to respond to modern phenomena, from cybercrime and transnational crime to increasing public attention to human rights protection.

“The reform of the KUHAP will make the law enforcement process more adaptive, modern, and will continue to uphold the principle of justice,” Supratman said.

He added that this new regulation is designed to close loopholes for abuse of authority and strengthen legal protection for citizens, thereby strengthening public trust in the criminal justice process.

The ratification of the KUHAP Bill was carried out after Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) submitted its final report on the deliberations.

House Speaker Puan Maharani then requested the approval of all factions.

“Can the KUHAP Bill be passed into law?” Puan asked.

The members of the House of Representatives (DPR) in attendance answered in unison, “Agreed!” and the gavel was tapped to signify ratification.

Before the decision was made, the Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Habiburokhman, also addressed a number of false reports circulating in the public regarding the contents of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) Bill. He outlined at least four widely discussed hoaxes, including those concerning wiretapping authority and the rumor that the police can freeze accounts without legal basis.

“We need to convey that according to Article 139 paragraph (2) of the new KUHAP, which, God willing, all forms of blocking of savings accounts, data on drives, and so on, must be carried out with the permission of a judge, the chief justice,” he said.

Habiburokhman emphasized that this information did not align with the final draft of the KUHAP Bill that was passed and asked the public to refer to official documents, not speculation.

“The hoax claims that the police can arrest, prohibit people from leaving a place, search, and even detain people without confirmation of a crime. This is also untrue,” he said.

With this ratification, Indonesia is entering a new phase of reforming criminal procedural law, which is expected to provide better protection for citizens amidst the dynamics of modern crime and strengthen legal certainty within the framework of the Pancasila rule of law.