Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Law Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, known as Eddy Hiariej, noted that the government had long anticipated legal challenges against the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) at the Constitutional Court.
He emphasized that officials stand ready to remain accountable and provide the public with justifications for the provisions now under judicial review.
"So, at that time we did think ahead that this would definitely be tested and we are ready to be accountable academically as to why it should be included and why the formulation should be like that," said Eddy during a socialization agenda at the Ministry of Law building in Jakarta on Monday, January 26, 2026.
He reported that 15 lawsuits concerning the KUHP and 6 regarding the KUHAP have already been registered with the court. Furthermore, he observed that the grievances raised in the KUHP petitions align closely with the 14 critical issues his team had previously identified.
"Our expert team is ready to explain to the public regarding the content being tested at the Constitutional Court," he said.
He acknowledged that debates and differing opinions between the government, the House of Representatives (DPR), and the public are common in legislative matters. Nevertheless, he maintained that every regulation eventually codified in the new KUHAP and KUHP was the result of extensive deliberations and debate by expert panels during the drafting phase.
"Once it is passed and becomes positive law, we must obey, and we must be able to implement it, and be able to explain it to the public," he said.
In addition, Eddy believed that interpretation is fundamental to legal application. Therefore, there is always room for how a regulation is applied in practice.
"People always say that these articles have multiple interpretations; these articles lead to many interpretations. I think there is no law without interpretation," he said.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2083149/21-lawsuits-against-new-criminal-codes-filed-at-m