Candidates For Supreme Court Justice Suradi The Death Penalty Is Still Needed

Candidates for Supreme Court Justices for the Suradi Criminal Chamber while undergoing a fit and proper test held by Commission III of the DPR RI at the parliament complex, Jakarta, Monday (14/9/2025). (ANTARA/Good Ahmad Rizaldi)

JAKARTA - Prospective Supreme Court Justice Suradi considers that special penalties in the form of imposition of the death penalty are still needed in the justice system, when answering questions from members of Commission III of the DPR RI when undergoing a fit and proper test at the parliament complex, Jakarta, today.

He said that the death penalty was an attempt to give "shock therapy" to the perpetrators of the crime. However, according to him, the death penalty only needs to be imposed on the perpetrators who actually commit serious crimes.

"In my opinion, this special crime is indeed a middle way to anticipate, in certain ways it still needs to be imposed," Suradi said as quoted by Antara, Monday, September 15.

The candidate for Supreme Court Justice for the Criminal Chamber explained that the death penalty is still listed in Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP). However, the death penalty is not included as a basic crime, but a special crime.

In addition, according to him, the International Covant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) also states that the death penalty can still be imposed on crimes that are classified as the most serious crime. For example, he said, there are criminals who mutilate victims to separate their limbs.

"Well, our criminal law provides space, in the sense that the crime is indeed the first track to protect the community and also fulfills the protection of individuals," he said.

On the other hand, he explained that the Criminal Code currently stipulates that the death penalty must be followed by a probationary sentence of 10 years in prison. This means, he said, coaching is still being carried out for prisoners with a death penalty of 10 years.

He also admitted that he agreed with the concept of the death penalty listed in the latest Criminal Code.

"For those 10 years, whether the person concerned is good or not, if his actions are good and regret his actions, there is a possibility to be shifted and changed to life imprisonment," said the man who has the position of origin as a High Court Judge.