Indonesian teacher convicted of sexual assault released early amid secrecy

Moch Subchi Azal Tsani, called Bechi, was convicted in 2022 of sexually assaulting a female student at an Islamic boarding school in East Java and sentenced to seven years in prison. The school’s operating licence was withdrawn, yet the president intervened to keep it open, arguing the case involved only an individual. In August 2025, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections announced that Bechi was released early because of sentence remissions, without providing a reason for the reduction.

Victims, including the sole complainant whose identity remains undisclosed, were not informed of his release, contrary to witness-protection rules. Undercover reporters later filmed Bechi smiling at a prayer event in March and again at an Eid gathering at his family’s home. Authorities claim he remains on parole, while the witness-protection agency insists victims must still be notified. The case has heightened concerns about sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools and the influence of religious leaders.