News Roundup

Last Friday, Indonesia enacted its new penal code, replacing colonial-era laws that had governed the country for over a century. The legal reform implements a new national criminal code (KUHP) and a criminal procedures code (KUHAP). The measure shifts Indonesia’s criminal system from a retributive to a restorative model, prioritizing rehabilitation and social reintegration over punishment. The KUHP introduces alternative penalties such as community service, mediation, and medical rehabilitation for drug offenses, aiming to reduce prison overcrowding. Other notable changes include criminalizing sex outside marriage and reintroducing penalties for insulting the president and state institutions. The KUHAP enhances investigative, prosecutorial, and trial procedures. It also introduces digital systems to improve the judicial system’s efficiency. The Associated Press has more about the new penal code here. Travel agent scams victims out of thousands. Tavia Thomas, a New York-based travel agent, was arrested after allegedly scamming customers out of tens of thousands of dollars. According to a release issued by the Nassau County Police Department, in July 2024, Thomas allegedly received $35,753.98 for a Royal Caribbean Cruise from nine victims. When the expecting travelers arrived at the port in Bayonne, N.J., an employee informed them that the tickets they had were for a cruise that did not exist. That same month, Thomas allegedly received a total of $7,660 from several people for a destination wedding but never booked the venues and did not provide refunds. In September 2024, a woman booked a trip to the Dominican Republic through Thomas's agency, paying $10,034.16 for herself and 50 family [...]