A former teacher at a respected Islamic boarding school in East Java was suddenly back behind bars after a BBC investigation exposed an early, clandestine release.
Mochamad Subchi Azal Tsani, known as Bechi, had been sentenced to seven years in 2022 following convictions for sexually assaulting a female student.
Under the auspices of a normal sentence‑reduction scheme, he was quietly granted parole in August 2025 and left prison with only half his term served. The victim, who should have been notified of his release, remained unaware and was left in the dark.
The BBC’s undercover drama caught Bechi greeting supporters publicly in March 2026, a month after his supposed release, which sparked an uproar. Parliament convened, and a review found administrative errors that warranted revoking his parole.
Minister Agus Andrianto warned that those who approved the release would face sanctions, underscoring the government’s intent to prevent future irregularities.
One of the women who testified at the trial, Ira Puspitasari, said the restitution felt like a small vindication: “I didn’t expect the government would pay this detailed attention,” she told the BBC.
The case reignites the debate about how Indonesia protects victims of sexual abuse within religious and educational institutions and the potential influence of powerful clerics, as the teacher was the son of a well‑known Islamic cleric.
For viewers outside the UK, the full BBC Eye investigation is available on YouTube and iPlayer.
