Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, through its Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement (Ditjen Gakkumhut), held a two-day socialization event on the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) and the future projection of forestry law enforcement from 19–20 January 2026 in Jakarta. The outreach event followed the official repeal of the old KUHAP and enactment of Law No. 20 of 2025 concerning the updated Criminal Procedure Code.
The revised KUHAP brings significant implications for the criminal justice system, especially in the context of forestry law enforcement. It redefines the roles, authorities, and relationships between National Police investigators and Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS), who traditionally have played key roles in forestry crime cases.
Under the new regulations, Police investigators are positioned as lead investigators with coordination and oversight responsibilities for PPNS during investigations and case file transfers. The updated code also reconfigures several PPNS authorities, including decisions to discontinue investigations, use of coercive measures, and transfer of case files, which now require Police direction.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, emphasized that Ministerial direction on forestry law enforcement is clear: enforcement must be firm, measured, and accountable because it represents the state before the public. He noted that changes to KUHAP are not merely formal adjustments but require a shift in operational mindset and coordinated understanding among law enforcement institutions.
“In 2025, Ditjen Gakkumhut conducted 173 forest protection operations and handled 146 case files that reached P-21 status. We will optimize this performance through alignment with the new KUHAP and Criminal Code,” Dwi said.
He outlined three main objectives for the forum: aligning implementation of the new KUHAP to avoid fragmented forestry investigations, identifying areas needing reinforcement during the transition period, and formulating concrete recommendations and follow-up actions to produce tangible results.
Dwi also stressed the need for input from the National Police, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and legal experts to ensure improvements are appropriate and impactful.
The event featured key speakers including Deputy Minister of Law Prof. Dr. Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, representatives from the National Police and Prosecutor’s Office discussing the redefined authority relations under the new KUHAP, criminal law scholars from multiple universities, and policy analysts from the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL).
Participants included forestry PPNS from regional offices nationwide, technical units within Ditjen Gakkumhut, and representatives from cross-sector agencies such as the Legal Bureau, the Directorate General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems, Customs, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, the Quarantine Agency, and the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla).
The broad institutional presence underscored that effective forestry law enforcement cannot operate in isolation but must function through a coordinated and integrated criminal justice system.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to adjustments necessary to ensure that the new Criminal Procedure Code strengthens forestry law enforcement performance. The forum is expected to solidify cooperation, unify enforcement approaches, and serve as a foundation for protecting forests through firm, fair, and accountable legal action. (*)
