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Abstract

This study examines the legal certainty surrounding commercial letters of credit (L/C) within the context of Indonesian judicial practice, focusing on how courts conduct hearings and render decisions in L/C-related trade disputes. The term “L/C” in this research encompasses both international L/C and the domestic equivalent, Surat Kredit Berdokumen Dalam Negeri (SKBDN). The analysis explores whether Indonesian courts have undertaken comprehensive judicial examinations across five key dimensions: (1) the determination of whether a breach of contract or a tort occurred; (2) the characterization of contractual relationships among the disputing parties; (3) the application of the L/C independence principle; (4) the interpretation of L/C clauses and governing provisions; and (5) the assessment of documentary evidence. The study further compares decisions across cases with similar factual or legal characteristics, as well as among courts of different hierarchical levels, to evaluate the consistency of judicial reasoning and outcomes. The findings indicate that judicial considerations and decisions have not yet established a robust sense of legal certainty regarding L/C transactions in Indonesia. Consequently, the study recommends the formulation of clear regulatory provisions to guide both commercial parties and the judiciary in addressing L/C-related legal issues and adjudicating trade disputes.

Bahasa Abstract

Penelitian ini mengkaji kepastian hukum terkait letter of credit (L/C) komersial dalam praktek peradilan di Indonesia, dengan fokus pada bagaimana pengadilan melaksanakan persidangan dan menjatuhkan putusan dalam sengketa yang berkaitan dengan L/C. Istilah “L/C” dalam penelitian ini mencakup baik L/C dalam konteks perdagangan internasional maupun Surat Kredit Berdokumen Dalam Negeri (SKBDN) sebagai padanan L/C domestik di Indonesia. Analisis dilakukan untuk menilai sejauh mana pengadilan telah melakukan pemeriksaan yudisial secara mendalam terhadap lima aspek utama, yaitu: (1) penentuan apakah terjadi wanprestasi atau perbuatan melawan hukum; (2) karakterisasi hubungan kontraktual antara para pihak yang bersengketa; (3) penerapan asas independensi L/C; (4) penafsiran klausul dan ketentuan L/C; serta (5) penilaian terhadap dokumen-dokumen yang diajukan sebagai alat bukti. Penelitian ini juga membandingkan putusan-putusan dalam perkara yang memiliki kesamaan fakta atau dasar hukum, serta putusan antar jenjang pengadilan dalam setiap perkara, guna menilai konsistensi pertimbangan dan hasil putusan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pertimbangan dan putusan pengadilan belum sepenuhnya mencerminkan adanya kepastian hukum yang kuat terkait transaksi L/C di Indonesia. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini merekomendasikan perlunya pembentukan ketentuan hukum yang jelas sebagai pedoman bagi para pihak dan bagi pengadilan dalam menangani permasalahan hukum serta penyelesaian sengketa perdagangan yang berkaitan dengan L/C.

References

Books

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Laws, Regulations, Court Decisions

Indonesia, Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Perdata.

Indonesia, Peraturan Otoritas Jasa Keuangan Republik Indonesia Nomor 26 Tahun 2024. Tentang Perluasan Kegiatan Usaha Perbankan (Lembaran Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 2024 Nomor 31/OJK).

People’s Republic of China, Provisions of the Supreme People's Court on Some Issues Concerning the Trial of Cases of Disputes over Letter of Credit (2020), The Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China, https://english.court.gov.cn/2021-10/20/c_761772.htm.

The American Law Institute, Uniform Law Commission, Uniform Commercial Code, Section 5.

PT Sigma Utama vs PT Semesta Jaya Abadi, 1224/Pdt.G/2023/PN.Sby, Pengadilan Negeri Surabaya, April 4th, 2024.

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