THE PRINCIPLE OF LEGALITY IN THE INDONESIAN CRIMINAL CODE AND THE SEYCHELLES CRIMINAL CODE (A COMPARATIVE STUDY)
Keywords:
comparative criminal law, principle of legality, hybrid law system
Abstract
Both the Indonesian and Seychellois legal systems are hybrid system or mixed. Those two countries accepted the codification of the criminal code. In Indonesia, Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP) was promulgated on January 2, 2023, and will come into effect on January 2, 2026, replacing the previous code. Whereas the Seychelles Penal Code (Chapter 158) was enacted on 1 February 1955. This study aims to compare the formulation of the principle of legality within these two penal codes. This is referred to as normative research, utilizing secondary data. Research findings indicate that the principle of legality within the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) is clearly formulated and accommodates the law living in society (customary law). In order to ensure that such living law possesses legal certainty and meets the lex scripta requirement, customary criminal offenses must be clearly defined or formally enacted by regional legislative bodies. In the Seychelles Criminal Code, the principle of legality is not explicitly formulated; instead, it is enshrined in the national constitution specifically in Article 18 regarding human rights. The study recommends that be made binding jurisprudence on lower-court judges in similar cases to ensure consistency in rulings.
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References
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Valco, H. T. (2022). John Locke’s thoughts on human rights: Exploring the contemporary discourse in the West. XLinguae Journal, 15(1), 64 – 74, . doi:10.18355/XL.2022.15.01.07
Wantu, F. M. (2023). Shifting the Paradigm of the Indonesian Judicial System from The Influence of the Anglo-Saxon Judicial System. JAMBURA LAW REVIEW, 5(01), 116 – 135. doi:: https://doi.org/10.33756/jlr.v5i1.17927
Aries Saputro and Radian Salman, .. (2024). Legal and Moral Principles as Guidelines for Carrying Out Official Duties. Yuridika, 39(2), 127 – 152. doi:https://doi.org/10.20473/ydk.v39i2.5049
Crummey, C. (2025). The Principle of Legality: A Moral Theory, Oxford Legal Philosophy . Oxford Academic, online edn: Oxford . doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/9780198935469.001.0001
et.al., K. (2025). An Unreasonable Purchase Of Goods: A Criminal Law Perspective’. Awang Long Law Review,, 8(01), 35 - 38. doi:https://doi.org/10.56301/awl.v8i1.1772
Firman Amir, e. a. (2023, October - Desember ). Implementation of the Legality Principle in the Criminal Justice System of Indonesia. JPLS: Journal of Political and Legal Sovereigntyol , 3(4), 132 - 138. doi: https://doi.org/10.38142/jpls.v1i4.139
Geospasial, A. B. (2024, Desember 13). Badan Informasi Geospasial. Retrieved July 10, 2026, from Pulau Indonesia Bertambah Jadi 17.380, Mengapa Angkanya Berubah Setiap Tahun?: https://sipulau.big.go.id/news/11,
Gobind, X. S. (2025, November). Workplace experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other employees in South Africa. other employees in South Africa’,, 7(1), 2617-7471. doi:10.4102/AJCD.v7i1.174
Gozali, D. S. (2025). Pengantar Perbandingan Sistem Hukum (Civil Law, Common Law, dan Hukum Adat). Bandung: Nusa Media.
Igual, R. (2024, September 28). Seychelles Passes LGBTIQ-Inclusive Hate Crimes Bill. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from MAMBA ONLINE COM: https://www.mambaonline.com/2024/09/28/seychelles-passes-lgbtiq-inclusive-hate-crimes-bill/
Indonesia, B. R. (2018, April 16). Peraturan Daerah (PERDA) Kabupaten Konawe Nomor 1 Tahun 2018 on Pelaksanaan Hukum Adat Perkawinan Sara Merapu Suku Tolaki di Kabupaten Konawe. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from JDHI DataBase Peraturan: https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/154377/perda-kab-konawe-no-1-tahun-2018
Indonesia, B. R. (2023, Januari 2). Kitan Undang - Undang Hukum Pidana. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from JDIH Data Peraturan BPK: https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/details/234935/uu-no-1-tahun-2023,
Indonesia, B. R. (2025, 31 December). Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia No. 55 Tahun 2025 Tentang Tata Cara Dan Kriteria Penetapan Hukum Yang Hidup Dalam Masyarakat. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from JDIH Data Peraturan: ’, https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/343971/pp-no-55-tahun-2025,
JDIH Dataperaturan BPK. (2023, 2025, Januari 2023 dan Desember 2025). Kitab Undang- Undang Hukum Pidana, Kitan Undang - Undang Acara Pidana. Retrieved July 10, 2026, from Data Base Pearuran: https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/details/234935/uu-no-1-tahun-2023, dan https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/337302/uu-no-20-tahun-2025,
Mansari. (2026). Metode Penelitian Hukuml: Normatif, Empiris dan Pencarian Litaratur Digital,. Banda Aceh: Media Publiser.
Martha, S. Y. (2023). Indonesian Criminal Code, Living Law and Social Control in Law Enforcement in Indonesia. Jurnal Sasi, Vol 29 ( Issue 4), 705 – 716,. doi:10.47268/sasi.v29i4.1697
Mudimu, G. (2021, Agust ). Balancing Crime and Punishment in a Constitutional System of Government: Some perspectives from Seychelles. Seychelles Research Journal, 3(2), 54 – 67.
Omondi, D. (2025, August 07). Legal Constructions of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation in African Countries and their Implications on the Best Interests of the African Child. Available at SSRN, 1 - 27. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6268558
Poespasari, A. S. (2024, September). Comparison of Civil Law and Common Law Legal Systems in the Application of Jurisprudence. Journal Law , Politic and Humanities (JLPH),, 4(6), 2229 - 2235| . doi:https://doi.org/10.38035/jlph.v4i6.649
Priyono, F. J. (2024). Bridging Law and Morality Principles: Legal Theory Approach’,. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 22(2), 24417-24425. doi:https://doi.org/10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.001744
Ramsay, P. (2025). Rights of the sovereign: criminal law as public law. King's Law Journal, 36(i), 70 - 103. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/09615768.2025.2476261
Republic of Seychelles. (2017). Seychelles 1993 (rev. 2017). Retrieved July 16, 2026, from Constitute: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Seychelles_2017
Republic of Seychelles. (2020). Please find below the various laws and legislation pertaining to the Judiciary of Seychelles. Retrieved July 10, 2026, from Judiciary of Seychelles Courage and Comitment: https://www.judiciary.sc/seychelles-law/
Republic of Seychelles. (2024, October 01). Act 13 2024 - Act 13 - 2024 - Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from Official Gazette Republic of Seychelles: https://www.gazette.sc/v/act/2024
Republic of Seychelles. (2025, December 23). Act 25 2025 - Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from Official Gazette Act 2021: https://www.gazette.sc/v/act/2025
Setiawan, M. S. (2025). Asas Legalias dan Non Retroaktif sbg Landasan Tindak Pidana,. In e. a. KMS Herman, Pembaharuan Hukum Pidana dan Kodifikasi (pp. 536 – 537). Gresik, Jawa Timiur: Global Keatif Media.
Seychelles, R. (2017, April 21). Seychelles 1993 (rev. 2017). Retrieved July 10, 2026, from Constitution of Seychelles: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Seychelles_2017
Turkson, N. (2016, May 19). A Victory for LGBT Rights in Seychelles: Parliament voted Wednesday to decriminalize same-sex acts in country. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/05/lgbt-rights-seychelles/483503/.
Twomey, M. (2012, October 5). Paper SSRN. Retrieved July 10, 2026, from SSRN.com: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2157039
U.S. Department of State. (2017, January 20). Republik Seychelles. Retrieved Juli 10, 2026, from Konten yang diarsipkan: https://2009--2017-state-gov.translate.goog/outofdate/bgn/seychelles/113208.htm?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=id&_x_tr_hl=id&_x_tr_pto=tc,%20%20A
Utami, N. A. (2025,). Harmonisasi Hukum Nasional dan Hukum Adat Dalam Penanganan Delik Adat Asusila di Bali. Journal of International Multidisciplinary Research, Vol: 3 ( 5 ), 45-51,. doi:: 10.62504/jimr1253
Valco, H. T. (2022). John Locke’s thoughts on human rights: Exploring the contemporary discourse in the West. XLinguae Journal, 15(1), 64 – 74, . doi:10.18355/XL.2022.15.01.07
Wantu, F. M. (2023). Shifting the Paradigm of the Indonesian Judicial System from The Influence of the Anglo-Saxon Judicial System. JAMBURA LAW REVIEW, 5(01), 116 – 135. doi:: https://doi.org/10.33756/jlr.v5i1.17927
Published
2026-09-26
How to Cite
Kuswardani, Kurnianingsih, M., Prokosa, A. L., & Fairuzzaman, F. (2026). THE PRINCIPLE OF LEGALITY IN THE INDONESIAN CRIMINAL CODE AND THE SEYCHELLES CRIMINAL CODE (A COMPARATIVE STUDY). Awang Long Law Review, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.56301/awl.v9i1.2425
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2026 Kuswardani, Marisa Kurnianingsih, Andria Luhur Prokosa, Fahmi Fairuzzaman
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