Indonesian teacher convicted of sexual abuse secretly released early from prison

A man convicted of sexually assaulting students at an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia has been released from prison after serving less than half his sentence, according to undercover footage obtained by the BBC. Moch Subchi Azal Tsani, known as Bechi, was sentenced to seven years in 2022 following his arrest at his father's school in East Java. He was released in August 2025—more than a year and a half before he would have been eligible for parole in March 2027. Indonesia's Ministry of Immigration and Corrections attributed the early release to "sentence remissions granted to him in accordance with applicable regulations" but declined to explain why his sentence was reduced.

Bechi's case has exposed deep vulnerabilities in how Indonesia's Islamic boarding schools operate and how institutional power protects influential religious figures from accountability. His father, Kiai Muchtar Mu'thi, is a prominent Islamic leader whose school and wider religious complex command thousands of devoted followers. When police arrived to arrest Bechi in 2022, nearly 1,000 riot officers were required to overcome the resistance of supporters who had gathered at the school gates, standing shoulder to shoulder and chanting their willingness to defend the institution "with body and soul." The government initially withdrew the school's operating licence, but President Joko Widodo intervened to keep it open, arguing the case involved an individual rather than the institution itself.

The conviction itself was narrower than prosecutors sought. They had charged Bechi with rape and requested a maximum sentence of 16 years, but the court found him not guilty of rape and convicted him instead on the lesser charge of sexual assault. Of several female students who alleged abuse and rape, only one pursued a legal case that resulted in his conviction. Her identity has never been made public. The others who testified at trial did so knowing their allegations would not lead to separate charges against him.

Ira Puspitasari, another student who testified, has now waived her anonymity to speak publicly about her experience for the first time. She says she was sexually abused and raped by Bechi for more than four years beginning when she was 15 years old. She attempted to escape, but Bechi's private security guards tracked her down, kidnapped her, and took her to a secluded hut where she says he tortured and raped her before she was expelled from the school. When she reported the abuse to police, she was intimidated into withdrawing her report. She shared with the BBC an audio recording of Bechi's mother, Nyai Shofwatul Ummah, telling her that nothing had happened and urging her to retract her allegations, describing the matter as "only family business." Fearing for her safety and facing death threats from Bechi's supporters, Ira signed a statement retracting her allegations—a decision she now deeply regrets.

Ayu Masuroh, who was not herself abused by Bechi, began investigating the allegations after hearing about them from schoolmates. She collected testimonies from at least 10 other female students, all of whom alleged they were sexually assaulted or raped by him. According to her accounts, some students said Bechi told them they were "chosen," while another said he raped her after calling her for what he framed as a "personal interview." These accounts were part of the closed-door trial, according to court records reviewed by the BBC. Nun Sayuti, a former lawyer for the school who later left to support the students, testified at trial that Bechi had ordered him to make the rape allegations disappear. When Sayuti began investigating the claims himself, he realized he was defending the wrong side and switched his allegiance. He secretly recorded Bechi boasting: "In my position, I can have my way with anyone I want."

The students who testified, including the girl whose case led to Bechi's conviction, were placed under witness protection. Indonesian law requires that victims be informed when someone convicted of crimes against them is released. But Ira and another former student who testified told the BBC they were never notified of Bechi's release. They learned of it only when shown BBC undercover footage of him at prayer events in January and March of this year, smiling and greeting supporters while wearing a mask. The shock was profound—they had believed he was still in prison. The ministry claimed victims need not be informed because Bechi remains on parole, but Indonesia's witness protection agency disputed this, stating that victims must still be informed.

The early release raises urgent questions about institutional protection of powerful religious figures. Indonesia's National Commission on Violence Against Women warned in May of an "emergency" of sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools, noting that the power wielded by religious leaders shields these institutions from oversight and discourages students from reporting abuse. The commission called on the government to strengthen oversight and impose stronger penalties. Nun Sayuti expressed deep disappointment at Bechi's release, calling it "a violation of victims' rights. They went through a long and difficult legal process to bring this case to light." Ira, watching the footage of Bechi free and surrounded by supporters, said simply: "It's like nothing ever happened." She added: "It feels as if he has won and I've lost. It's very important the world knows. It's true. He is free. It's just a complete mockery of the law."