Mens Rea and Ultimum Remedium in Distinguishing Breach of Contract from Fraud: Analysis of Indonesian Supreme Court Decision No. 4/Yur/Pid/2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63142/al-battar.v3i2.534Keywords:
Breach of Contract, Fraud, Mens Rea, Good Faith, Civil LiabilityAbstract
The intersection between breach of contract (wanprestasi) and the criminal offense of fraud in contractual relationships creates legal issues in determining the boundary between civil and criminal liability. Previous studies generally discuss elements of fraud, breach of contract, and the principle of good faith separately, resulting in a lack of research that specifically analyzes Supreme Court Decision Number 4/Yur/Pid/2018 by integrating the perspectives of mens rea, the principle of good faith, and civil liability. This study aims to analyze the juridical construction employed by the Supreme Court in distinguishing breach of contract from fraud and to examine civil liability arising from breach of contract containing elements of fraud. This study is normative legal research using statutory, case, and conceptual approaches. The novelty of this study lies in the application of the perspectives of mens rea and the principle of ultimum remedium as instruments to limit the criminalization of contractual disputes in analyzing Supreme Court Decision Number 4/Yur/Pid/2018. The findings show that the existence of mens rea from the initial formation of the agreement serves as the main parameter in distinguishing breach of contract from fraud, while contractual violations without malicious intent remain within the scope of civil law, with remedies in the form of specific performance, compensation, or contract termination. This study also finds that the decision has not provided detailed parameters regarding the limits of mens rea and the principle of good faith, which may lead to differing interpretations in judicial practice. Therefore, further development of jurisprudence and legal doctrine is required to strengthen legal certainty in the settlement of contractual disputes.
Downloads
References
Alfianto, Dwi, Ali Rido, dan Geraldo Valento Wijaya. “Pertanggungjawaban Perdata Dan Tanggung Gugat Dalam Perkara Wanprestasi Dan Perbuatan Melawan Hukum.” Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat: Pemberdayaan, Inovasi Dan Perubahan 4, no. 6 (November 2024). https://doi.org/10.59818/jpm.v4i6.986.
Andika, Fery. “ANALISIS YURIDIS PENYELESAIAN WANPRESTASI JUAL BELI RUMAH (STUDI PUTUSAN NOMOR 30/PID.B/2022/PN.IDI).” Jurist Argumentum: Pemikiran Intelektual Hukum 3, no. 1 (Juli 2025). https://doi.org/10.35308/jjm.v3i1.12116.
Aritama, Randi. “PENIPUAN DALAM HUKUM PIDANA DAN HUKUM PERDATA.” SENTRI: Jurnal Riset Ilmiah 1, no. 3 (November 2022): 728–36. https://doi.org/10.55681/sentri.v1i3.283.
Badri, Syaiful, Pristika Handayani, dan Tri Anugrah Rizki. “Ganti Rugi Terhadap Perbuatan Melawan Hukum Dan Wanprestasi Dalam Sistem Hukum Perdata.” JURNAL USM LAW REVIEW 7, no. 2 (Juli 2024): 974–85. https://doi.org/10.26623/julr.v7i2.9440.
Bryhinets, Oleksandr. “Civil Liability for Breach of Contract.” Economics. Finances. Law 3, no. (2022): 19–21. https://doi.org/10.37634/efp.2022.3.4.
Cahyono, Ardy Dwi. “CIRI WANPRESTASI DAN TINDAK PIDANA PENGGELAPAN YANG LAHIR DARI HUBUNGAN KONTRAKTUAL.” NOVUM : JURNAL HUKUM 3, no. 4 (Oktober 2016): 52–60. https://doi.org/10.2674/novum.v3i4.17899.
Cantika Tresna Rahayu, Chelsea Kairadinda Adam. Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Pihak yang Dirugikan Dalam Wanprestasi. 9 November 2024. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.14058588.
CLA, Dr Yogie Fahrisal, SH ,. MM ,. MH. Penegakan Hukum Pidana dalam Sengketa Penguasaan Tanah. Penerbit Adab, t.t.
Dewi, Ni Made Cahya Kirana, Dewa Ayu Putri Sukadana, Komang Satria Wibawa Putra, dan Gusti Ayu Eviani Yuliantari. “Pelanggaran Asas Itikad Baik Pasal 1338 KUHPerdata Oleh Pihak Pertama Dalam Kontrak Sewa.” Al-Zayn : Jurnal Ilmu Sosial & Hukum 3, no. 6 (Desember 2025): 10712–18. https://doi.org/10.61104/alz.v3i6.2842.
Elisa Putri, Dina, Elly Sudarti, dan Elizabeth Siregar. “Tindak Pidana Penipuan Melalui Aplikasi Digital (Gagasan Pemikiran Pertanggungjawaban Oleh Bank).” PAMPAS: Journal of Criminal Law 5, no. 1 (Maret 2024): 72–87. https://doi.org/10.22437/pampas.v5i1.31716.
Ferdiansyah, Aldi, Berdi Adityas Wiryawan Wahyono, dan Almansyah Harahap. “Efektivitas Mediasi Sebagai Alternatif Penyelesaian Sengketa Perdata Dalam Meningkatkan Akses Keadilan Di Indonesia.” Jurnal Kajian Hukum Dan Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan 1, no. 4 (September 2025): 471–80.
Hadiyanto, Alwan, Emy Hajar Abra, dan Linayati Lestari. “Tipu Muslihat Dalam Perspektif Hukum Pidana: Analisis Penalaran Yuridis Hakim Dalam Menentukan Unsur Penipuan.” JURNAL USM LAW REVIEW 8, no. 2 (Juni 2025): 836–48. https://doi.org/10.26623/julr.v8i2.12062.
Kusumastuti, Dora, Rian Saputra, and Nilam Firmandayu. 2025. “Good Faith in the United States’ International Reciprocal Tariff Agreements: Safeguarding Indonesian Domestic Products”. Substantive Justice International Journal of Law 8 (2):163-83. https://doi.org/10.56087/substantivejustice.v8i2.512.
Kusmiati, N. Ike. “Legal Standing of Pre-Contractual Good Faith Principle as a Law Reformation of Indonesian Contract Law.” International Journal of Science and Society (IJSOC) 2, no. 1 (Maret 2020): 73–85. https://doi.org/10.54783/ijsoc.v2i1.61.
Mallarangeng, Andi Bau, Mustari, Firman, dan Ismail Ali. “Pembuktian Unsur Niat Dikaitkan Dengan Unsur Mens Rea Dalam Tindak Pidana Korupsi.” Legal Journal of Law 2, no. 2 (November 2023): 11–24.
Mardiana, Yuvita Tri, Fendi Setyawan, Muhammad Arief Amrullah, Ayu Herlin Norma Yunita, dan Dametken Medikhanovna Turekulova. “Reconstructing Prosecutorial Epistemology for Substantive Justice in Contract Law: A Comparative Philosophical and International Legal Analysis of Indonesia and Kazakhstan.” PATTIMURA Legal Journal, 14 Oktober 2025, 328–253. https://doi.org/10.47268/pela.v4i3.22780.
Martinelli, Imelda, Destiana Vani Candra, Devika Graciella Gunawan, dan Kaniko Dyon Geraldi. “KETIDAKSESUAIAN PERILAKU DALAM PERJANJIAN KESEPAKATAN (STUDI PUTUSAN MAHKAMAH AGUNG NOMOR 3686 K/PDT/2024).” NUSANTARA : Jurnal Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial 12, no. 5 (Agustus 2025): 1966–75. https://doi.org/10.31604/jips.v12i5.2025.1966-1975.
M. Irsan Arief,. Nuansa Perdata Dalam Perkara Pidana. MCL Publisher, 2023.
Mohamad, Muzakir Syah S., Mutia Cherawaty Thalib, dan Nurul Fazri Elfikri. “Kepastian Hukum Dalam Penyelesaian Sengketa Pelanggaran Perjanjian Lisan Yang Berpotensi Terjadi Pelanggaran Hukum.” RechtJiva, 2035, 420–37. https://doi.org/10.21776/rechtjiva.v2n3.2.
Muhammad Husni Abdulah Pakarti, Ija Suntana, dan Ramdani Wahyu Sururie; “Application Of Legal Maxims In Contract Law: Pacta Sunt Servanda And Islamic Rules On Promises.” Lex Scientia Law Review 9, no. 1 (Mei 2025): 1223–51. https://doi.org/10.15294/lslr.v9i1.20858.
Nazara, Beriman Jaya, dan Roida Nababan. “Pembuktian Unsur Niat Jahat (Mens Rea) Direksi Debitor Dalam Actio Pauliana Yang Merugikan Kreditur: Sinkronisasi Hukum Kepailitan Dan Tindak Pidana Penipuan.” Jurnal Sosial Dan Sains 5, no. 10 (Oktober 2025): 3521–29. https://doi.org/10.59188/jurnalsosains.v5i10.32529.
Novitasari, Dea. “Pertanggungjawaban Pidana Pelaku Penipuan dengan Modus Kerja Sama usaha.” Jurnal Hukum Lex Generalis 7, no. 7 (April 2026). https://doi.org/10.56370/jhlg.v7i7.3434.
NURPASA, WIBOWO. “PENERAPAN KONSEKUENSI PIDANA DALAM KASUS WANPRESTASI PERJANJIAN KONTRAK JIKA PERKARA TIDAK DAPAT DISELESAIKAN SECARA PERDATA.” Masters, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung Semarang, 2025. https://repository.unissula.ac.id/41692/.
Rina Fitriana & Ahmad Zainuddin. Wanprestasi Perjanjian sebagai Tindak Pidana Penipuan. (Jawa Barat) 10 No 2 (2022).
Romandona, Rizki, dan Bukhari Yasin. “Analisis Hukum Asas Mens Rea Dan Actus Reus Dalam Kasus Pembunuhan Brigadir Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat (Studi Kasus Dalam Putusan Pn Jakarta Selatan No. 796/Pid.B/2022/Pn Jkt.Sel).” JUSTITIABLE - Jurnal Hukum 6, no. 2 (Januari 2024): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.56071/justitiable.v6i2.817.
Satiah, Satiah, dan Riska Ari Amalia. “Kajian Tentang Wanprestasi Dalam Hubungan Perjanjian.” JATISWARA 36, no. 2 (Agustus 2021): 126–39. https://doi.org/10.29303/jtsw.v36i2.280.
“Kajian Tentang Wanprestasi Dalam Hubungan Perjanjian.” JATISWARA 36, no. 2 (Agustus 2021): 126–39. https://doi.org/10.29303/jtsw.v36i2.280.
Sentosa, Muhammad Amin, Siti Malikhatun Badriyah, dan Yunarto. “Good Faith Principles in International Business Contract Law.” International Journal of Law and Politics Studies 5, no. 2 (April 2023): 27–33. https://doi.org/10.32996/ijlps.2023.5.2.3.
Sinaga, Niru Anita. “PERANAN ASAS ITIKAD BAIK DALAM MEWUJUDKAN KEADILAN PARA PIHAK DALAM PERJANJIAN.” JURNAL ILMIAH M-PROGRESS 8, no. 1 (2018). https://doi.org/10.35968/m-pu.v8i1.186.
Suryoutomo, Markus, Mohammad Solekhan, Sri Murni, Hamdani, dan Saryana. “Tanggung Jawab Perdata Dalam Kasus Wanprestasi Dan Perbuatan Melawan Hukum :” Jurnal Kolaboratif Sains 8, no. 4 (April 2025): 2018–23. https://doi.org/10.56338/jks.v8i4.7261.
Wijaya, Adi, Eli Tri Kursiswanti, dan Maria Ana Liwa. “LIMITS OF DEFAULT AND FRAUD IN LOAN AGREEMENTS.” JILPR Journal Indonesia Law and Policy Review 6, no. 3 (Juni 2025): 254–60. https://doi.org/10.56371/jirpl.v6i3.506.
Winata, Tania, dan Ade Adhari. “Dasar Kriteria Dalam Menentukan Adanya Penipuan Dan Wanprestasi Dalam Yurisprudensi Mahkamah Agung Nomor No.4/Yur/Pid/2018.” UNES Law Review 6, no. 4 (Juni 2024): 10643–50. https://doi.org/10.31933/unesrev.v6i4.2026.
Yahman,. Karakteristik Wanprestasi & Tindak Pidana Penipuan. Prenada Media, 2017.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Chandi Aulia, Amanda Adelina Harun, Nurifana Umar, Ahmad Ridhwan Abd Rani (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
