Teacher Convicted of Sexual Assault Returns to Indonesian Jail After Secret Early Release Revealed

Mochamad Subchi Azal Tsani, known as Bechi, a former teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a student, has been returned to jail in Indonesia. His secret early release on parole in August 2025, after serving less than half of his seven-year sentence, was revealed by a BBC Eye undercover investigation. The victim, who had not been informed of the parole despite her legal right to know, expressed relief upon hearing of his rearrest. "I pray that this doesn't happen to anyone else and that, going forward, the law will be applied justly in Indonesia," she told the BBC, remaining anonymous.

Initially, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections stated that Bechi's release was due to sentence reductions granted under existing regulations. However, the BBC's findings triggered a public outcry and prompted lawmakers to call for an investigation. Following this, the government announced a comprehensive review that identified "errors" leading to the revocation of Bechi's parole.

Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto informed the BBC that individuals responsible for approving Bechi's parole would face sanctions, emphasizing the government's commitment to preventing future irregularities. "We want to make sure that such mistakes or irregularities do not happen again," he stated.

For Ira Puspitasari, one of several former students who accused Bechi and testified against him, the development is a vindication. "I'm amazed, really. I didn't expect the government would pay such detailed attention to this case and really pay attention to us, the victims," she said. Puspitasari, who has waived her right to anonymity, detailed enduring rape and sexual abuse by Bechi for over four years, beginning at age 15. She described being held captive, raped, and beaten, and recounted an incident where she was allegedly tortured and raped in a secluded hut after attempting to escape, with private security guards reportedly tracking her down. She also shared an audio recording of Bechi's mother allegedly instructing her to claim that "nothing had happened" after she reported the abuse to the police, who she said intimidated her into withdrawing her complaint.