CRIMINAL LIABILITY IN THE NEWS INDICATED THE EXISTENCE OF DEFAMATION OFFENSE COMMITTED BY THE PRESS

Abstract

Press in an institution that has strong influence in spreading information through news. In its interaction with public, there are several news which contain the elements of defamation offense. Regarding this criminal act, the problem of criminal liability arises. This study aimed to know the press criminal liability which indicated defamation offense and the arrangement of press criminal liability in the future time. This study used normative juridical research method by doing library research. The results of the study revealed that based on the criminal law in Indonesia, criminal liability in the news indicated defamation offense committed by the press had been set in Criminal Code in accordance with Article 61 and 62 of Criminal Code on Publisher and Printing. Should the publisher and the printing meet the requirements contained in the Article then criminal liability can be imposed to the writer and the person in charge for the printing license. There is a distinction between Criminal Code and Law Number 40 of 1999 on Press in spotting the responsible parties. In Law Number 40 of 1999 on Press, criminal liability is imposed to the Chief Editor. The arrangement of criminal liability for the press committed defamation criminal act in the future time had been set in Article 753 and 754 of Legal Draft of Criminal Code. Keywords: Press, Criminal Liability, Defamation