Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesia officially entered a new era of law enforcement on Friday as the Criminal Code (KUHP) and the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) came into force nationwide on Friday (2/2/2026), ending more than a century of reliance on colonial-era criminal law.

“This moment marks a new chapter for Indonesian law enforcement that is more modern, humane, fair, and rooted in Pancasila and national values,” Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said, as cited by antaranews.com

The new legal framework replaces the old Criminal Code inherited from the Dutch colonial period and the Criminal Procedure Code enacted in 1981. The new codes reflect decades of legal reform since 1998, shifting Indonesia’s criminal justice approach from punitive to restorative justice.

Minister Yusril said the new KUHP expands alternative sanctions such as community service, rehabilitation, and mediation, while the new KUHAP strengthens transparency, accountability, and the rights of victims and suspects.

The government has prepared dozens of implementing regulations to ensure a smooth transition starting Friday.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)