NEW PROCEDURES RELATING TO APPEAL FROM KPPU DECISIONS (Indonesia)

Filling of Appeals

According to the Supreme Court Regulation 3/2021, appeals against KPPU decisions can only be filed by business actors against KPPU, not vice versa. Moreover, Supreme Court Regulation 3/2021 stipulates that in the event that the appeal is submitted by one or more business actors but there are other business actors in the same case that do not file an appeal, the KPPU decision will be considered final and binding on those that do not file an appeal.

The appeal against KPPU decisions must be filed in accordance with the following timeline:

• If the business actors are present at the hearing, the appeal shall be filed within 14 days after the KPPU decision is rendered; or
• If the business actors are absent at the hearing, the appeal shall be filed within 14 days after they are notified about the KPPU decision.

The appeal can be filed electronically through the Court Information Electronic System. Following any such measure, the issuance of any summons or notification, as well as the rendering of appeal decision will be conducted electronically.

Upon receiving the appeal request, the Head of Commercial Court will form a panel of judges to adjudicate the appeal case within three days. The judges must obtain the certification with respect to business competition and anti-monopoly practice as an evidence that they have sufficient knowledge of competition laws and anti-monopoly issues. If the relevant Commercial Court does not have sufficient number of judges who have obtained such certification, the Head of Commercial Court may appoint the judges who have experience in handling appeal cases against KPPU decisions.

The panel of judges will examine the appeal request at the earliest by 3 (three) months and latest by 12 (twelve) months. However, it is also possible that the judges may render the appeal decision in less than 3 (three) months if they deem that the examination and assessment which have been conducted are sufficient to conclude the case. This is a new process introduced under the Supreme Court Regulation 3/2021 as the Supreme Court Regulation No. 3 of 2019 did not allow the District Court to hand down the decision in less than 3 (three) months.

Cassation to Supreme Court

Upon the issuance of appeal decision by the Commercial Court, business actors and/or KPPU are given the opportunity to submit a cassation to the Supreme Court within 14 days after they are notified of the issuance of appeal decision. This cassation is the final legal remedy in competition laws cases, and no civil review (peninjauan kembali) to the Supreme Court is allowed thereafter.

Bank Guarantee Requirement

As regulated under the Government Regulation No. 44 of 2021 on the Implementation of the Prohibition of Monopolistic Practices and Unfair Business Competition, in the event that a business actor wishes to file an appeal against KPPU decision, it must provide bank guarantee in the amount of maximum 20% of the total fines imposed by KPPU at the latest 14 days after it receives the decision. If the business actor fails to provide the guarantee, it will be deemed to have accepted KPPU’s decision and willing to pay the entire amount of fines.

Conclusion

The issuance of Supreme Court Regulation 3/2021 provides clarity on the Omnibus Law that any appeals against KPPU decision shall be submitted to the Commercial Court, instead of the District Court and lays down the procedure for filing the same. In addition, the Supreme Court Regulation 3/2021 also clarifies that civil review (peninjauan kembali) against cassation decision by the Supreme Court is not allowed in competition law cases.