Key facts
- An Indonesian teacher, Moch Subchi Azal Tsani (Bechi), convicted of sexual assault, has been released early from prison.
- Bechi was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2022.
- Indonesia's Ministry of Immigration and Corrections stated Bechi was released in August 2025 due to sentence remissions.
- Victims who testified against Bechi were not informed of his early release, according to their accounts.
- The National Commission on Violence against Women warns of an 'emergency' of sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools, citing a lack of oversight.
- Bechi's father is an influential Islamic religious leader, and his family has significant political connections.
An Indonesian teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a student at an Islamic boarding school has been secretly released from prison early, a BBC Eye investigation has found. Moch Subchi Azal Tsani, known as Bechi, was arrested in 2022 at his father's school in East Java after a 15-hour siege involving nearly 1,000 riot police. He was sentenced to seven years in prison later that year.
Bechi's release comes as the National Commission on Violence against Women warns of an "emergency" of sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools, citing the power of religious leaders shielding these institutions from oversight and discouraging reporting.
Undercover footage recorded by the BBC reveals Bechi has been released after serving less than half his sentence. Indonesia's Ministry of Immigration and Corrections told the BBC that Bechi was released in August 2025 because of "sentence remissions granted to him in accordance with applicable regulations," but could not explain why his sentence was reduced.
Ira Puspitasari, a former student who testified at the trial, said she was raped and sexually abused by Bechi for over four years. She stated she was intimidated into withdrawing a police report and shared an audio recording of Bechi's mother telling her to say "nothing had happened." She expressed dismay upon seeing footage of Bechi greeting supporters, saying, "It's like nothing ever happened."
Other former students and advocates, including Nun Sayuti, a former lawyer for the school, have expressed disappointment and anger over Bechi's early release, calling it a violation of victims' rights. Ayu Masuroh, who investigated the allegations, stated she fears for her safety with Bechi out of prison.
Bechi's case is one of Indonesia's most high-profile sexual abuse scandals, amplified by his father's political influence and the school's connections to public figures.