The short version
- A teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a student in Indonesia has been released from prison early, despite having served only a fraction of his seven-year sentence.
- Undercover footage shows the former educator attending public events alongside his father, an influential religious leader, while victims report they were not notified of his release as required by law.
- Critics warn that powerful religious figures are shielding boarding schools from accountability, contributing to a broader crisis of sexual violence in these institutions.
An Indonesian teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a student has been released from prison early, according to an investigation that uncovered his presence at public gatherings despite ongoing legal restrictions. Mochamad Subchi Azal Tsani, widely known as Bechi, was sentenced to seven years in 2022 for offenses committed while teaching at an Islamic boarding school in East Java. His release occurred in August 2025, well before he would have been eligible for parole in March 2027 or completed his full term in 2029.
The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections stated that Bechi’s early departure was due to sentence remissions granted under applicable regulations. However, officials declined to specify the exact legal basis for the reduction. This lack of transparency has fueled confusion among victims and advocates who believed he remained incarcerated. The ministry argued that because Bechi is technically on parole, victims are not required to be informed of his status changes. This position conflicts with statements from Indonesia’s witness protection agency, which maintains that protected witnesses must always be notified when a perpetrator is released.
Undercover reporters embedded at religious events this year captured footage of Bechi attending gatherings alongside his father, an influential Islamic leader. In March, he was seen smiling and greeting supporters at a prayer event held at the family compound, which houses the Shiddiqiyyah Islamic boarding school. Security measures appeared heightened during these appearances; filming and photography were prohibited just before he took the stage, a departure from previous years when such restrictions were not enforced. Bechi wore a mask during one appearance, further obscuring his identity from casual observers.
The case has drawn intense scrutiny due to the severity of allegations made by former students. While only one victim pursued legal action that resulted in Bechi’s conviction for sexual assault rather than rape, other survivors have come forward with detailed accounts of abuse. Ira Puspitasari, who waived her right to anonymity, described years of captivity, torture, and rape beginning when she was fifteen. She alleged that private security guards tracked her down after she attempted to flee, returning her to a secluded location where Bechi abused her further before expelling her from the school.
Ira reported these incidents to police but claimed she was intimidated into withdrawing her complaint. She shared audio recordings in which Bechi’s mother urged her to claim that no abuse had occurred. Despite testifying at trial, Ira and another former student were not informed of Bechi’s release. Both expressed shock upon viewing the undercover footage, noting that they had assumed he remained behind bars. The failure to notify protected witnesses has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of Indonesia’s victim support systems.
The broader context involves systemic issues within Indonesia’s Islamic boarding school sector. The National Commission on Violence against Women has declared an emergency regarding sexual violence in these institutions, citing a lack of oversight and repercussions for abusers. The commission argues that the influence of religious leaders often shields schools from accountability, creating environments where students are discouraged from reporting abuse. Bechi’s father intervened with President Joko Widodo to keep the Shiddiqiyyah school operating after its license was initially withdrawn following the arrest.
Bechi’s arrest in 2022 required a significant police operation, involving nearly one thousand riot officers during a fifteen-hour siege at the school. Supporters of his family had gathered in large numbers to prevent law enforcement from taking him into custody. Although prosecutors sought the maximum sixteen-year sentence for rape, the court convicted him on lesser charges of sexual assault. The discrepancy between the severity of allegations and the final verdict has been a point of contention among advocates.
Attempts by investigators to obtain comment from Bechi, his mother, and school administrators have gone unanswered. The silence from those involved contrasts sharply with the public nature of Bechi’s recent appearances. As the debate over institutional accountability continues, the case highlights the challenges faced by survivors seeking justice in a system where religious authority often intersects with legal and educational governance.
The revelation of Bechi’s early release underscores the fragility of protections afforded to victims of sexual violence in Indonesia. With powerful figures potentially influencing judicial outcomes and prison administration, advocates warn that similar cases may go unaddressed. The situation remains fluid as authorities have not provided a clear explanation for the sentence reduction, leaving victims and the public uncertain about the integrity of the legal process.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Jailed teacher convicted of sexual abuse secretly released early in Indonesia, BBC finds
- BBC World↗Watch: BBC tracks down abusive teacher secretly released early
