Corporate Criminal Liability in Environmental Crimes Causing Disaster Risks
Keywords:
Corporate Criminal Liability, Environmental Crime, Ecological Damage, Environmental Law Enforcement, Ecological JusticeAbstract
Environmental crimes committed by corporations have become a serious legal issue in Indonesia due to their significant impact on ecological sustainability and community welfare. Corporate activities in sectors such as mining, plantations, forestry, and manufacturing frequently contribute to environmental pollution, forest and land fires, and ecological destruction that may trigger disaster risks. This study aims to examine the construction of corporate criminal liability in environmental crimes and to analyze the model of criminal sanctions imposed on corporations causing ecological damage. This research employs a normative legal research method using statutory, conceptual, and case approaches. Legal materials consist of primary legal sources in the form of laws and court decisions, as well as secondary legal materials derived from books, scientific journals, and legal articles. The collected legal materials were analyzed qualitatively through descriptive-analytical methods, legal interpretation, and legal reasoning. The findings reveal that corporate criminal liability in environmental crimes is constructed through the application of identification theory, vicarious liability, corporate culture theory, and the principle of strict liability. However, law enforcement still faces challenges in proving corporate fault and ensuring effective accountability. Furthermore, the imposition of criminal sanctions remains predominantly focused on monetary fines, which are often insufficient to create deterrent effects. More progressive sanctions, such as revocation of business licenses, environmental restoration obligations, and compensation for affected communities, are considered more effective in ensuring ecological justice and environmental recovery. In conclusion, strengthening corporate criminal liability and implementing restorative and preventive sanctions are essential to achieve effective environmental law enforcement, protect community rights, and ensure environmental sustainability for present and future generations.
References
M. A. Siregar, Hak Asasi Manusia dalam Sistem Hukum Indonesia. Medan: Pustaka Prima, 2024.
M. A. Siregar, R. F. Adrian, dan M. J. Rambe, Menelusuri Perjalanan Lahirnya Konsep Sistem Hukum Pidana di Indonesia. Tahta Media, 2023.
H. Aspan, “Diskresi Aparat Penegak Hukum dalam Sistem Peradilan Pidana,” Jurnal Hukum, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 112–124, 2021.
Suci Ramadani, “Protection of Human Rights Against Victims of Trafficking,” Proceeding International Seminar on Islamic Studies, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 145–152, 2023.
T. R. Zarzani, B. Fitrianto, dan S. Annisa, “The Idea of Renewing Terrorism Criminal Law in Indonesia as an Effort to Overcome Terrorism Based on the Justice Values,” International Journal of Law Reconstruction, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 38–55, 2024.
M. F. Daulay, T. R. Zarzani, dan H. Aspan, “Urgensi Perlindungan Hukum bagi Konsumen Peer to Peer (P2P) Lending di Indonesia,” Jurnal Rectum: Tinjauan Yuridis Penanganan Tindak Pidana, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 503–515, 2022.
N. H. T. Siahaan, Hukum Lingkungan dan Ekologi Pembangunan. Jakarta: Erlangga, 2020.
M. Akib, Hukum Lingkungan Perspektif Global dan Nasional. Jakarta: Rajawali Pers, 2022.
B. Supramono, “Pertanggungjawaban Pidana Korporasi dalam Tindak Pidana Lingkungan Hidup,” Jurnal Ius Quia Iustum, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 450–468, 2020.
Hamzah, Penegakan Hukum Lingkungan. Jakarta: Sinar Grafika, 2019.
M. Hutagalung dan T. R. Zarzani, “An implementation of restorative justice in settlement framework criminal acts fraud and employment to provide useful and fair legal guarantee (Study in Police Regional North Sumatra),” Legal Brief, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 2148–2154, 2022.
T. M. A. Fitra, T. R. Zarzani, H. Aspan, dan M. A. Siregar, “Inheritance distribution for heirs of different religions: A juridical review based on the compilation of Islamic law in Indonesia,” dalam Proceedings of International Conference on Islamic Community Studies, Oct. 2025, pp. 6733–6738.
F. Rafianti dan M. H. A. P. Sinaga, “Nusyuz as the cause of domestic violence: A comparative study of Islamic law and criminal law,” International Journal of Law, Environment, and Natural Resources, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 11–20, 2023.
A. Fahilly, S. Nurhayati, dan F. Rafianti, “Tanggung jawab hukum penjual dalam transaksi jual beli online Shopee pre-order yang mengalami keterlambatan,” Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 6892–6904, 2025.
I. Fatmawati, R. A. Fikri, dan M. A. Siregar, Peradilan Adat dan Restoratif dalam Penegakan Hukum di Indonesia. Tahta Media, 2023.
E. C. Tarigan dan H. Aspan, “Dampak overkapasitas di lembaga pemasyarakatan terhadap pemenuhan hak-hak narapidana di Rutan Kelas IIB Kabanjahe,” Locus Journal of Academic Literature Review, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 287–295, 2025.
F. H. Pardede, S. Nurhayati, dan H. Aspan, “Perlindungan hukum terhadap pekerja outsourcing (Studi pada PT. Arina Tama Persada),” Jurnal Christian Humaniora, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 157–176, 2025.
R. Sidi dan T. R. Zarzani, “Accountability of Criminal Threats for Stepfathers as Perpetrators of Criminal Acts of Sexual Violence Against Girls (Study of Decision 264/Pid.Sus/2023/PN.Lbp),” dalam International Conference Epicentrum of Economic Global Framework, 2024, pp. 1137–1143.
M. T. Alfiansyah, A. R. Nasution, dan T. R. Zarzani, “Pertanggungjawaban Pidana bagi Pelaku Aborsi sebagai Korban Perkosaan,” Judge: Jurnal Hukum, vol. 6, no. 09, pp. 1752–1759, 2026.
R. Rahmayanti, T. R. Zarzani, S. Sukarwoto, dan S. Diriyanti, “Tinjauan Yuridis terhadap Tindak Pidana Kekerasan Fisik di Lingkungan Pendidikan Tinggi (Menggunakan System Boarding School),” Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 10134–10147, 2024.
H. Mahya dan H. Aspan, “Kajian hukum terkait peran Badan Permusyawaratan Desa dalam pembentukan dan mekanisme penyusunan peraturan desa menurut Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Desa,” Jurnal Batavia, vol. 1, no. 5, pp. 250–258, 2024.
D. Maryana, H. Aspan, dan Y. Mandasari, “Juridical review of the implementation of security and data protection aspects of electronic medical records in accordance with PMK Number 24 of 2022 concerning medical records,” dalam International Conference Epicentrum of Economic Global Framework, 2024, pp. 1–9.
N. H. T. Siahaan, Hukum Lingkungan dan Ekologi Pembangunan. Jakarta: Erlangga, 2020.
A. Prasetyo dan R. Nugroho, “Environmental Criminal Law Enforcement in Indonesia: Challenges and Future Directions,” Jurnal Hukum dan Peradilan, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 145–160, 2023.
D. Kurniawan dan S. Mahendra, “Corporate Responsibility in Environmental Pollution Cases in Indonesia,” Journal of Indonesian Legal Studies, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 55–72, 2024.
L. Setiawan, “Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection in Indonesian Law,” International Journal of Environmental Policy, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 201–214, 2022.
R. Firmansyah dan T. Hidayat, “Application of Polluter Pays Principle in Environmental Disputes,” Yustisia Law Review, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 88–102, 2021.
M. A. Rahman, “Ecological Justice and Corporate Environmental Crimes,” Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 300–318, 2024.
P. Siregar dan Y. Harahap, “Legal Protection Against Environmental Damage Caused by Corporations,” Jurnal Rechtsvinding, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 77–94, 2025.
H. Wibowo, “The Concept of Justice in Environmental Criminal Law Enforcement,” Journal of Human Rights, Culture and Legal System, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 122–137, 2022.
S. Ananda dan F. Lubis, “Distributive Justice in Environmental Law Enforcement,” Jurnal Dinamika Hukum, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 411–427, 2023.
B. Santoso dan E. Putri, “Restorative Justice Approach in Environmental Crime Cases,” Lex Scientia Law Review, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 95–110, 2024.
M. Yusuf, “Social Justice and Community Rights in Environmental Protection,” Indonesia Law Review, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 1–18, 2025.
T. Wahyudi dan A. Simanjuntak, “Legal Certainty in Corporate Environmental Crime Enforcement,” Jurnal Penelitian Hukum De Jure, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 185–200, 2024.
N. Fadilah, “Humanistic Approach in Environmental Criminal Law Policy,” Law Reform Journal, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 44–59, 2025.
I. Gustina dan A. Pradana, “Normative Legal Research in Indonesian Legal Studies,” Jurnal Penelitian Hukum, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 120–132, 2022.
R. Hidayat dan F. Mahendra, “Corporate Liability in Environmental Law Enforcement,” Jurnal Hukum Lingkungan Indonesia, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 45–60, 2023.
L. P. Sitorus, “Conceptual Approach in Criminal Law Research,” Legal Scientific Review, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 201–215, 2021
D. Saputra dan M. A. Rizky, “Case Approach in Environmental Crime Analysis,” Journal of Legal and Policy Studies, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 310–327, 2024.
N. K. Harahap, “Sources of Legal Materials in Normative Legal Research,” Jurnal Akademik Hukum, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 66–78, 2022.
S. Rambe dan H. Wijaya, “Library Research Method in Legal Studies,” International Journal of Law and Society, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 145–159, 2023.
Y. Firmansyah dan R. Ananda, “Legal Reasoning and Interpretation in Environmental Criminal Law,” Law and Justice Journal, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 221–238, 2025.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Arifin Bernad Tampubolon, Fitri Rafianti; Henry Aspan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
International Conference On Islamic Community Studies, Education and Science, its website, and the articles published therein are licensed under a 
