A Legal Analysis of the Criminal Act of Document Forgery in the Livestock Procurement Project Reflecting Restorative Justice (Case Study of Supreme Court Decision Number 555 K/Pid/2025)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the legal basis of the judge's considerations in Supreme Court Decision Number 555 K/Pid/2025 regarding the crime of falsifying documents in a livestock procurement project, and to assess whether the criminal sanctions imposed reflect the principles of restorative justice. The study uses a normative juridical method with a case study approach, focusing on the legal construction of Article 263 Paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code, legal considerations at the first, appeal, and cassation levels, as well as the relevance of criminal punishment to substantive and restorative justice. The results of the study indicate that the Supreme Court considers the fulfillment of the elements of intent, acts of falsification, and legal losses for other parties or the state. Decisions at all levels refer to legal facts and valid procedures so that the punishment is considered proportional. The sanction in the form of one year's imprisonment and court costs reflects restorative justice by balancing retributive punishment and the perpetrator's responsibility against state losses, restoration of public trust, and a preventive effect for public officials. Considerations of mitigation and aggravation emphasize the proportionality of sanctions, so that the Supreme Court's decision provides legal certainty while maintaining the integrity of public administration.