Independent Report – Commitment to Human Rights ProtectionCoordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections (Menko Kumham Imipas), Yusril Ihza Mahendra, states that the revised Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) strengthens human rights protection. He believes that this revision reflects the spirit of the amendment to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, which emphasizes the protection of fundamental rights.
During a statement at the Kemenko Kumham Imipas Office in Jakarta on Thursday (March 20, 2025), Yusril emphasized that the revision of KUHAP marks a significant step in criminal procedural law reform. One of the main points in the bill sets a clear time limit for suspect status. The new KUHAP draft limits this status to a maximum of two years.
Yusril explained that if investigators fail to gather sufficient evidence within two years, the suspect status must be revoked, and the individual must be released from all legal charges. He considers this provision crucial in preventing legal uncertainty that negatively impacts those declared as suspects.
For years, individuals with suspect status have faced severe moral pressure due to legal uncertainty. The previous KUHAP did not explicitly define a time limit, which allowed suspect status to remain indefinitely. With the new regulation, the government aims to enhance legal certainty and uphold justice.
Besides ensuring human rights, Yusril believes that revising KUHAP will improve various existing provisions. Changes in society and legal dynamics demand adjustments in criminal procedural law to remain relevant to current needs.
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As a legal scholar and practitioner, Yusril recalls submitting judicial reviews on several KUHAP articles to the Constitutional Court. Some provisions in the previous KUHAP were annulled because they conflicted with human rights principles and justice. He sees this revision as a necessary step to refine criminal procedural law in Indonesia.
Recently, the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) approved the Draft Law on Amendments to Law Number 8 of 1981 concerning Criminal Procedure Law (RUU KUHAP) as a DPR initiative proposal. The approval was granted during the 13th Plenary Session of the Second Session Period for the 2024–2025 Legislative Year.
The RUU KUHAP has also entered the 2025 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) proposed by Commission III of DPR RI. Lawmakers consider the new KUHAP urgent and require immediate discussion and ratification, especially since the new Criminal Code (KUHP) will take effect in 2026.
With these reforms, the government aims to establish a fair, transparent, and human rights-oriented legal system. Additionally, the revision seeks to improve law enforcement effectiveness so that all citizens receive better legal protection.
This KUHAP revision expects to bring positive changes to Indonesia’s judicial system. By setting a clear time limit for suspect status, people will no longer suffer prolonged legal uncertainty. The government also hopes these changes will provide law enforcement officers with more precise guidelines when handling criminal cases.
Yusril stresses that criminal procedural law reform represents a broader effort to build a justice-oriented legal system that respects human rights. He remains optimistic that these updates will modernize Indonesia’s criminal justice system and make it more responsive to societal needs.
Thus, this KUHAP revision is not merely a regulatory update but a major step in ensuring that Indonesia’s criminal procedural law upholds justice, legal certainty, and human rights protection.
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