Normative Construction Of The Guilt Recognition Mechanism In The New Criminal Code And Its Relevance To The Eradication Of Corruption In Indonesia

Plea bargain is a new mechanism regulated in Law Number 20 of 2025 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) as part of the reform of the criminal justice system in Indonesia. This mechanism allows the defendant to voluntarily admit his guilt in exchange for criminal relief. This study aims to analyze the regulation of the guilt mechanism in the new Criminal Code as a form of adaptation of plea bargaining and its relevance in corruption cases without weakening the principle of corruption eradication. The research method used is normative juridical with a legislative approach, a case approach, and a conceptual approach through literature studies on primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials. The results of the study show that the admission of guilt in the new Criminal Code is a limited form of plea bargaining because it still places the judge as the party who tests the voluntariness of the confession and the adequacy of the ukti tool. A confession of guilt cannot be used as the only basis for criminal prosecution because it requires at least two valid evidence. In corruption cases, this mechanism is relevant when used to speed up evidence, uncover the network of perpetrators, and support the recovery of state losses through asset recovery. However, its application must be strictly limited so as not to weaken the deterrent effect and principles of corruption eradication.

Criminal justice · Criminal law · Criminal procedure · Normative · Plea · Indonesian Legal and Regulatory Studies · Legal and Policy Analysis in Indonesia · Legal Studies and Policies