Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The government is drafting a Bill on the Implementation of the Death Penalty as a follow-up to the new Criminal Code (KUHP), which takes effect on 2 January 2026. 

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Tuesday (8/4/2025) that the bill is needed to ensure legal clarity during the transition from the old Dutch-era code.

Under the new Criminal Code, a death sentence cannot be carried out immediately. Convicts must serve a 10-year probationary period to assess whether they show remorse. If they are deemed to have reformed, the sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment.

“Under the Criminal Code, a death sentence handed down cannot be carried out right away,” said Minister Yusril, as reported by antaranews.com.

The law treats the death penalty as a special, not primary, punishment. Exceptions apply for pregnant women, mothers with infants, and those with mental illness, reflecting a more humane and rehabilitative approach to justice.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)