Key Provisions Of Indonesia's New Criminal Code

The Indonesian House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or "DPR") passed the revised Criminal Code at its plenary session on December 6, 2022, and it has now been legislated by the Government as Law No. 1 of 2023 regarding Criminal Code, dated January 2, 2023 (the "New Criminal Code").

This article briefly traces the path to passage of the New Criminal Code and looks at key differences between the New Criminal Code and its predecessor.

How the New Criminal Code Came to Pass

The first discussions on revising Indonesia's Criminal Code took place at a national seminar about 60 years ago. A draft of Book I of the Criminal Code appeared in 1968, followed by a draft of Book II in 1979. These drafts were discussed at an academic conference in December 1982. So, clearly, revising the country's Criminal Code has been a long process.