Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III and the Indonesian government have agreed to regulate the use of video surveillance or CCTV while probing a crime suspect. Under the draft revision of the Criminal Procedure Code, or KUHAP, the CCTV footage will not only be made available for prosecution, but for defense as well.
The new provision is outlined in Article 31 of the Criminal Procedure Bill (KUHAP Bill) that was agreed on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. "The previous draft only regulates CCTV footage for the purpose of investigation, but some proposed [CCTV use] to monitor the investigators, to deter from intimidating the suspects and the likes," said chair of Commission III, Habiburokhman, in yesterday's meeting.
Access to CCTV footage, he went on, must be open to defendants for legal defense purposes. "Thus, lawyers should be able to access the CCTV footage to achieve fairness and balance," said Habiburokhman.
Deputy Minister of Law, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, or Eddy Hiariej, approved the use of CCTV monitoring, as it will protect all parties. "Both the accuser and the accused," said Eddy.
Article 31 Paragraph (1) of the KUHAP Bill provides that anyone accused of a criminal act must be informed by the investigator of their right to legal assistance. Paragraph (2) outlines how the questioning of a suspect "may be recorded with a surveillance camera."
Furthermore, paragraph (3) stipulates that the CCTV footage is made for the purpose of investigation, prosecution, or during court hearings at the judge's request. Meanwhile, paragraph (4) outlines how the footage may be used for the defense of the defendants.