Indonesian Parliament Ratifies Landmark Criminal Procedure Code Revision
Table of Contents
The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) officially passed the revised Criminal Procedure Code (RKUHAP) into law on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, following extensive deliberations. The ratification marks a meaningful step towards modernizing the nation’s criminal justice system and establishing a new legal foundation.
A Deliberate Path to Ratification
The decision to move forward with the revised code was made at the 8th plenary session of the DPR’s second session for the 2025-2026 session year. Prior to the final vote,Commission III of the DPR and the government reached an agreement on Thursday,November 13,2025,to advance the RKUHAP to the final level of approval.
the plenary session, held in the DPR plenary room at the parliament complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, was presided over by DPR Speaker Puan Maharani, alongside Deputy Speakers Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, Adies Kadir, and Saan Mustopa.A total of 242 members of the DPR were in attendance, alongside key government officials including Minister of Law and Justice Supratman Andi Agtas, Deputy Minister of State Secretary Bambang Eko Suhariyanto, and Deputy Minister of Law and Law Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej.
unanimous Approval and a Foundation for Justice
Following a report from the Chairman of Commission III DPR, Habiburokhman, regarding the decision to revise the KUHAP, DPR leadership sought approval from all members. “The time has come for us to ask for approval from the factions on the Draft Law on the Criminal Procedure Code, can it be approved to be passed into law?” a presiding officer asked. The response was unanimous. “Agreed,” echoed members of the Council, punctuated by Maharani’s decisive gavel strike.
According to a senior official, the RKUHAP was developed through a complete and inclusive process. minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi emphasized that the revised code is intended to serve as “the foundation of just law” in Indonesia. He further explained that the drafting process involved extensive consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, including academics, legal practitioners, law enforcement agencies, professional organizations, civil society groups, and representatives from vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities.
The existing Criminal Procedure code has long been the cornerstone of Indonesia’s national criminal justice system. This revision aims to address evolving legal challenges and ensure a more equitable and efficient legal framework for the future.
You can watch a video detailing the DPR-Government Commission III agreement to bring the RKUHAP to plenary here:
