Law Enforcement Against the Criminal Offense of Counterfeit Currency Circulation in the Indonesian Criminal Justice System

Abstract

The circulation of counterfeit money is a criminal offense that not only causes economic harm to society but also threatens the stability of the monetary system and public confidence in the rupiah as a symbol of national sovereignty. With the implementation of the National Criminal Code, the legal framework governing counterfeit currency offenses has evolved, requiring an assessment of law enforcement implementation and the consistency of judges' sentencing considerations. The study asks how law enforcement against counterfeit currency circulation is implemented in the Indonesian criminal justice system and how judges' considerations differ between Decision Number 75/Pid.Sus/2023/PN Cbn and Decision Number 99.Pid.B/2025/PN Sgm. The research employs normative or doctrinal legal research. The findings indicate that enforcement against counterfeit currency circulation has a strong legal foundation under Law Number 7 of 2011 concerning Currency and the National Criminal Code. Nevertheless, its implementation faces obstacles, including the need to improve interagency coordination, increase law enforcement capacity, optimize the multi-door approach, and expand public education on rupiah authenticity. A comparison of Decision Number 75/Pid.Sus/2023/PN Cbn and Decision Number 99/Pid.B/2025/PN Sgm further indicates that differences in judicial reasoning are influenced by the complexity of offender structures, types of charges, evidentiary constructions, and proof of intent. Both judgments nevertheless consistently treat Bank Indonesia expert testimony as essential evidence for establishing currency inauthenticity and apply the law in accordance with the facts established at trial.