Reformulating Rechterlijk Pardon in the Criminal Procedure Code: A Comparative Study with the Dutch Criminal Justice System

Khaoeirun Nissa; Heni  Siswanto; Ahmad Irzal  Fardiansyah; Erna  Dewi; Zulkarnain  Ridlwan; Denys Illiashchuk

doi:10.66325/nusantaralaw.v5i2.351

Authors

Khaoeirun Nissa Universitas Lampung, Indonesia
Heni Siswanto Universitas Lampung, Indonesia
Ahmad Irzal Fardiansyah Universitas Lampung, Indonesia
Erna Dewi Universitas Lampung, Indonesia
Zulkarnain Ridlwan Universitas Lampung, Indonesia
Denys Illiashchuk Odessa State University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66325/nusantaralaw.v5i2.351

Keywords:

Dutch Law; Legal Reformulation, Rechterlijk Pardon; Substantive Justice.

Abstract

The enactment of Article 54 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) introduces the concept of rechterlijk pardon as a progressive mechanism that enables judges to refrain from imposing criminal sanctions based on humanitarian and justice considerations. However, despite its substantive recognition, the absence of corresponding procedural provisions in the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) has created a normative gap that threatens legal certainty, judicial accountability, and consistency in criminal adjudication. This study addresses three research questions: (1) how rechterlijk pardon is currently positioned within the Indonesian criminal justice system; (2) how the concept is regulated and implemented in the Dutch criminal justice system; and (3) what procedural model should be adopted to reformulate rechterlijk pardon within the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code. Using a normative juridical approach combined with a qualitative comparative method, this research analyses statutory provisions, legal doctrines, scholarly literature, and comparative materials, particularly Article 9a of the Dutch Wetboek van Strafrecht. The findings show that Indonesia has recognised rechterlijk pardon as a progressive instrument for achieving substantive justice, humanity, and proportionality in sentencing; however, its implementation remains vulnerable to legal uncertainty, inconsistent judicial practice, and potential abuse of discretion due to the absence of procedural safeguards. The Dutch model demonstrates that judicial pardon can operate effectively when supported by clear criteria, written judicial reasoning, oversight mechanisms, and accountability standards. This study contributes academically by proposing a contextual reformulation of rechterlijk pardon within the KUHAP, emphasising clear eligibility criteria, mandatory reasoned decisions, monitoring and reporting mechanisms, restorative justice, and Pancasila as the philosophical foundation of Indonesian criminal procedure reform.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aisy, Rohadhatul. ‘Judicial Pardon as a Humanizing Approach to Criminal Sentencing: Reconstructing Judicial Decisions under the New Indonesian Criminal Code: Pengampunan Hukum Sebagai Pendekatan Humanis Dalam Penetapan Hukuman Pidana: Rekonstruksi Keputusan Peradilan Di Baw’. The Digest: Journal of Jurisprudence and Legisprudence 6, no. 2 (2025): 151–174.

Amelia, Dean Putri, and Beniharmoni Harefa. ‘Judicial Discretion in Criminal Justice: Challenges, Implications, and Comparative Lessons from Indonesia and the Netherlands’. Legitimasi: Jurnal Hukum Pidana Dan Politik Hukum 14, no. 2 (2025): 376–394.

Anwar, Arizal. Pemaafan Hakim (Rechterlijk Pardon) Dalam KUHP Nasional Konstruksi Norma Dan Implikasi Bagi Sistem Pemidanaan. Indonesia Emas Group, 2026.

Anwar, Arizal, Slamet Suhartono, Yovita Arie Mangesti, and Erny Herlin Setyorini. ‘The Concept of Judge’s Forgiveness (Rechterlijk Pardon) in The National Criminal Law Code’. DiH: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, 2025, 183–208.

Arief, Barda Nawawi. Masalah Penegakan Hukum Dan Kebijakan Hukum Pidana Dalam Penanggulangan Kejahatan. Prenada Media., 2018.

Ashworth, A., and R. Kelly. Sentencing and Criminal Justice. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021.

Bakhiatushsholihat, Rafa Tabina. ‘The Mechanism for Implementing Judicial Pardon in the Criminal Justice System in Indonesia: Comparative Study with Various Countries’. Lexovate: Jurnal Perkembangan Sistem Peradilan 2, no. 1 (2025): 56–71.

Estiningtyas, Aulia Rizka, Ulfatul Hasanah, and Rusmilawati Windari. ‘Comparison of the Legal Regulation of the Rechterlijk Pardon in Indonesia and the Netherlands’. Jurnal Suara Hukum 6, no. 1 (2024): 162–186.

Faisal, Andri Yanto, Derita Prapti Rahayu, Dwi Haryadi, Anri Darmawan, and Jeanne Darc Noviayanti Manik. ‘Genuine Paradigm of Criminal Justice: Rethinking Penal Reform within Indonesia New Criminal Code’. Cogent Social Sciences 10, no. 1 (December 2024): 2301634. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2301634.

Farikhah, Mufatikhatul. ‘The Judicial Pardon Arrangement as a Method of Court Decision in the Reform of Indonesian Criminal Law Procedure Pengaturan Judicial Pardon Sebagai Bentuk Putusan Pengadilan Dalam Pembaharuan Hukum Acara Pidana Indonesia A . Introduction Two of the Instru’. Padjajaran: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum (Journal of Law) 8, no. 1 (2021): 1–25.

Firmansyah, Agung, Padma D. Liman, and Nur Azisa. ‘Reconceptualizing Judicial Pardon ( Rechterlijke Pardon ) In The National Criminal Code : Understanding The Role Of Judges As Guardians Of Substantive Justice Reconceitualizando O Perdão Judicial ( Rechterlijke Pardon ) No Código Penal Nacional : Compreen’. Veredas Do Direito 23, no. 7 (2026): 1–34.

Hakim, Lukman. Penerapan Dan Implementasi “Tujuan Pemidanaan” Dalam Rancangan Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana (RKUHP) Dan Rancangan Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Acara Pidana (RKUHP). Deepublish, 2020.

———. Penerapan Konsep Pemaafan Hakim (Rechterlijk Pardon) Dalam Sistem Perdailan Pidana Di Indonesia: Optimalisasi Teori Dualistis Di Dalam Sistem Pemidanaan. Graha Ilmu, 2019.

Hamzah, A. Hukum Pidana Indonesia. Sinar Grafika, 2017.

Hamzah, Andi. Perbandingan Hukum Pidana Beberapa Negara. Ketiga. Sinar Grafika, 2024.

Handoko, Redy, Ikrar Demarkasi, Rudy Astanto, Slamet Haryadi, Viktoriya Melnykovych, and Adi Sulistiyono. ‘Beyond Punishment: Reformulating Corruption Law Enforcement for State Loss Recovery’. Nusantara: Journal of Law Studies 5, no. 2 (August 2026): 1260–1279. https://doi.org/10.66325/nusantaralaw.v5i2.165.

Mashdurohatun, Anis, Salomo Saing, Surya Budi Darma, Sobrani Binzar, Denys Denyshchuk, and B. A. S. Faomasi Jaya Laia. ‘Reconstructing Regulations on Compensation Payments in Corruption Cases Based on the Principles of Justice in Pancasila’. Nusantara: Journal of Law Studies 5, no. 2 (August 2026): 1202–1225. https://doi.org/10.66325/nusantaralaw.v5i2.162.

Moeliono, Tristam Pascal, and Aris Hardinanto. ‘Comparative Study of Judicial Pardon in the Substantive Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law of the Netherlands and Indonesia: Note to the Draft Criminal Procedure Code’. Kosmik Hukum 25, no. 2 (2025): 287–303.

Moeljatno, S. H. Asas-Asas Hukum Pidana. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta, 2002.

Moore, Kathleen Dean. ‘Pardons: Justice, Mercy, and the Public Interest’. Preprint, Oxford University Press, 3 July 1997. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195113945.001.0001.

Musa, M., and Kasmanto Rinaldi. ‘The Existence and Application of The Principle of Judge’s Forgiveness (Rechterlijk Pardon/Judicial Pardon) In Criminal Law and Court Decisions’. Journal International of Officium Nobile 1, no. 2 (2025): 126–138.

Nirmalasari, Cantika Qori, and Muhammad Azil Maskur. ‘Penerapan Judicial Pardon Di Belanda Dan Indonesia: Analisis Komparatif Terhadap Rechtelijk Pardon Pada KUHP Baru Di Indonesia’. Legalite: Jurnal Perundang Undangan Dan Hukum Pidana Islam 11, no. 1 (2026): 116–136.

Novak, Andrew. Comparative Executive Clemency: The Constitutional Pardon Power and the Prerogative of Mercy in Global Perspective. Routledge Research in Human Rights Law, 2015.

Setyawan, Vincentius Patria, and Itok Dwi Kurniawan. ‘The Urgence of Rechterlijk Pardon Regulation In Criminal Law Renewal’. Jurnal Inovasi Penelitian 2, no. 2 (2021): 643–650.

Sudarto. Hukum Pidana 1. Semarang: Yayasan Sudarto, 2018.

Wicaksono, Benny Satrio, Ismansyah Ismansyah, and Edita Elda. ‘Rechterlijke Pardon Sebagai Penyeimbang Asas Legalitas Dalam Pembaharuan Hukum Pidana Indonesia’. Ranah Research: Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development 7, no. 4 (2025): 2658–65.

Widiartana, Gregorius, and Sajjad Hussain. ‘Nusantara : Journal of Law Studies’. Nusantara: Journal of Law Studies 4, no. 1 (2025): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17346796.