Son of prominent cleric freed after serving less than half of seven-year sentence; parole later revoked amid public outcry.
An Indonesian teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a student at an Islamic boarding school was secretly released from prison early, Media revealed, sparking widespread criticism and leading to the eventual revocation of his parole.
Mochamad Subchi Azal Tsani, known as Bechi, was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2022 for the sexual assault of a female student at his father’s prominent Islamic boarding school in Jombang, East Java, where he worked as a teacher. Prosecutors had sought a maximum 16-year sentence on rape charges, but the court convicted him of the lesser charge of sexual assault.
Bechi, the son of influential Islamic cleric Muhammad Mukhtar Mu’thi, was arrested in 2022 following a dramatic 15-hour siege involving nearly 1,000 riot police after supporters gathered to prevent his detention. His case drew national attention in Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country where millions of families send children to Islamic boarding schools, known as pesantren.
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According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, Bechi was released on parole in August 2025 due to “sentence remissions granted to him in accordance with applicable regulations.” He had served less than half of his sentence and was not due for standard parole eligibility until around March 2027, with his full term set to end in 2029.
A Media undercover investigation, published in September 2026, found that Bechi had been living freely and attending public events. Victims and witnesses who had been placed under protection were not informed of his early release, despite legal requirements in some cases. The ministry maintained that notification was unnecessary because he remained on parole, a position disputed by Indonesia’s witness protection agency.
The revelations triggered public outrage and calls from lawmakers for an investigation. In response, the government ordered a comprehensive review, which identified “errors” in the parole process. Bechi’s parole was subsequently revoked, and he was returned to prison in early October 2026. Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto said those responsible for approving the early release “will certainly face sanctions.”
Sexua Abuse Case Renews Calls for Justice:
Multiple former students had previously made allegations of sexual assault and rape against Bechi, though only one case proceeded to conviction. One woman, who waived anonymity in earlier reports, described prolonged abuse beginning when she was 15. Bechi has not publicly responded to the additional allegations.
The case has renewed scrutiny of accountability within Indonesia’s correctional system and the handling of sexual violence cases involving figures of religious influence. Rights advocates and survivors’ groups have long raised concerns about barriers to justice in such cases, particularly within religious educational institutions.
Bechi is now back in custody, and officials have indicated further internal reviews into the circumstances of his early release.