Viral! New KUHAP Officially Effective, Bali High Prosecutor Reveals Strategy to Combat Law Mafia at Undiknas Excellence!

DENPASAR – A major transformation in Indonesia’s criminal justice system is currently receiving significant attention across various academic circles, particularly among Law and Master of Law students. The Head of the Bali High Prosecutor’s Office, Dr. Chatarina Muliana, S.H., S.E., M.H., personally presented a comprehensive discussion on this fundamental change at the National Education University, known as a leading campus. The Public Lecture held on Friday, 17 April 2026 focused on strengthening the role of prosecutors as the primary controllers of cases based on the due process of law. The dynamic discussion at Undiknas Unggul was directly moderated by I Gusti Agung Kiddy Krsna Zulkarnain, S.H., M.H., who is also recognised as a legal expert within the campus. The presence of these senior legal officials became a valuable opportunity for the academic community to understand the new direction of law enforcement in the country.

A New Paradigm: From Retribution to Restorative Justice

The Indonesian legal system has officially left behind the old colonial patterns in favor of a national law that is much more humane and grounded in Pancasila values. Based on Law No. 20 of 2025 concerning the New KUHAP, legal orientation now focuses entirely on protecting the human rights of every individual. There is no longer a paradigm of retributive justice that merely punishes perpetrators for the sake of revenge in a society that is becoming increasingly legally literate. Instead, the government, through #Undiknasexcellence, continues to socialize corrective, rehabilitative, and restorative justice for all parties involved in a case. This mindset shift is heavily emphasized for Master of Laws students to help reduce the prison overcrowding or “overload” that has occurred in correctional institutions.

The Prosecutor as ‘Dominus Litis’: The Decider of Case Quality

In this latest regulation, the Prosecutor’s position is strengthened as the Dominus Litis, or the controller and decider of the quality of a criminal case at the investigation level. Prosecutors are now required to be present from the start of the investigation through intensive coordination after receiving the SPDP officially from the police. This is strictly implemented to avoid “forced” case files or legal flaws that harm the general public. As the primary navigator, students at Undiknas Excellence are taught that Prosecutors have full authority to determine whether a case deserves to proceed to court or be dismissed. Equal synergy between investigators and public prosecutors is the main key to achieving fair legal certainty at this Excellence Campus.

Alert! Expansion of Pre-trial Objects and Forced Measures

The public and practitioners from the Law Program need to closely examine the expansion of pre-trial objects as stipulated in Articles 158 to 164 of the New KUHAP. Now, pre-trial objects include the legality of forced measures, seizure of irrelevant items, to delays in case handling without valid reasons. The types of forced measures have also increased significantly, covering the determination of suspects, wiretapping, to strictly monitored bank account blocking actions. Prosecutors are now required to have sharp legal auditing skills to ensure every investigative action complies with applicable legal procedures. This reform guarantees that every action by law enforcement officers must prioritize the protection of human rights for every citizen.

The Future of Trials: Guilty Pleas and Electronic Evidence

The future trial process will introduce 15 new stages designed to be much more efficient and modern for Master of Laws graduates. One interesting innovation is the Guilty Plea mechanism or plea bargaining, which can accelerate the legal process in court. Additionally, electronic evidence is now officially recognized as valid evidence to strengthen proof before a judge. Detention requirements are also tightened in the New KUHAP to guarantee individual freedom from potential abuse of power by authorities. Dr. Chatarina emphasized that integrity and conscience remain the most vital foundations in upholding true justice at Undiknas Excellence.