Returning Land Title Certificates to Parties Other Than the Registered Rights Holder in Criminal Judgments

The return of land title certificates admitted as evidence in criminal proceedings raises legal concerns when the designated recipient differs from the registered rights holder. This study examines the consistency of the legal reasoning in Mojokerto District Court Judgment No. 136/Pid.B/2023/PN.Mjk concerning Certificate of Ownership (Sertifikat Hak Milik [SHM]) No. 4177, registered in the name of Moh. Saifuddin Annafabi. It also develops an analytical framework for distinguishing the return of evidence from the formal determination of land ownership. Using normative legal research, this study employs statutory, case, and conceptual approaches, followed by prescriptive qualitative analysis. The findings indicate that the designation of STIT Raden Wijaya Mojokerto as the recipient of the certificate must be distinguished from a definitive determination of land ownership. Trial testimony and the status of the registered rights holder underscore the need to verify the legal basis for any transfer of land rights. This study concludes that the legal analysis should address three distinct aspects: the return of evidence, the validity of the transfer of land rights, and the recipient’s legal capacity to hold such rights. Distinguishing these aspects is essential to strengthening legal certainty in land ownership.