BBC Eye has uncovered that Moch Subchi Azal Tsani (known as Bechi), convicted in 2022 of sexually assaulting a student at his father's pesantren in East Java, was quietly released in August 2025 after serving less than half of a seven-year sentence. Undercover footage shows him attending religious events, while survivors and the witness protection agency say they were not notified of his release. Komnas Perempuan warns of an "emergency" of sexual violence at some Islamic boarding schools and calls for stronger oversight and victim protection.
Secret Early Release: Convicted Teacher From Influential Indonesian Cleric Freed After Serving Less Than Half His Sentence — BBC
Bechi was recorded at an event earlier this year by BBC reporters who were undercover [BBC]
A BBC Eye investigation has found that Moch Subchi Azal Tsani, commonly known as Bechi — a teacher convicted in 2022 of sexually assaulting a student at an Islamic boarding school in East Java — was quietly released from prison in August 2025 after serving less than half of a seven-year sentence.
Key Findings
Undercover BBC footage shows Bechi attending recent religious events at the Shiddiqiyyah complex, where he was photographed and filmed greeting supporters. Indonesia's Ministry of Immigration and Corrections said his release was due to "sentence remissions granted to him in accordance with applicable regulations" but declined to provide further details about how his time behind bars was reduced.
Ira is speaking publicly for the first time about her allegations against Bechi [BBC]
What The Trial and Sentence Covered
Bechi was arrested in 2022 after a 15-hour standoff at the school owned by his father, Kiai Muchtar Mu'thi, during which supporters gathered in large numbers to block police. Prosecutors sought a maximum 16-year sentence for rape, but the court acquitted him of rape and convicted him on a lesser sexual assault charge, handing down a seven-year sentence.
Victims, Witness Protection And Notification Disputes
Several former pupils alleged years of abuse, but only one pursued the criminal case that led to the conviction; her identity has been protected. Survivors and the witness protection agency told the BBC they were not informed of Bechi's release. The Ministry said notification was unnecessary because Bechi remains on parole, while the witness protection agency said victims should have been notified regardless.
Ira and Ayu both testified at Bechi's trial - and say they didn't know he had been released early until they saw the BBC footage [BBC]
Survivors' Accounts
“I was treated as his slave. I was held captive, raped, beaten,”
One survivor, Ira Puspitasari, waived her right to anonymity to describe what she told the court: abuse and rape spanning more than four years, beginning when she was 15. She told the BBC she tried to run but was allegedly tracked by private security guards, forcibly returned to a remote hut and tortured. She says she was later expelled from the school.
Ira also shared an audio recording in which she says Bechi’s mother urged her to withdraw her police report and claim "nothing had happened." Other former students and a local investigator, Ayu Masuroh, say they collected testimony from at least 10 women alleging sexual assault or rape by Bechi.
Bechi was arrested in 2022 - and tried and convicted shortly after [ANTARAFOTO/Didik Suhartono]
Institutional Influence And Oversight Concerns
Komnas Perempuan, Indonesia’s National Commission on Violence Against Women, has warned of an "emergency" of sexual violence in some pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) and says the power of religious leaders often shields institutions from effective oversight and discourages reporting. Observers and survivors argue that the family's political reach — including past visits by prominent politicians to the Shiddiqiyyah complex — helped shape official responses to the case.
Reactions And Ongoing Questions
Nun Sayuti, a former lawyer for the school who later supported the students, described Bechi's early release as a violation of victims’ rights. He and others have provided recordings and testimony, including a tape in which Bechi is heard saying, "In my position, I can have my way with anyone I want." The BBC sought comment from Bechi, his mother and the Shiddiqiyyah school; none responded.
Timeline (Selected)
- 2018: Alleged abuses occur and at least one survivor says she was pressured to retract a complaint.
- 2022: Bechi is arrested after a 15-hour police operation and later sentenced to seven years for sexual assault.
- January 2025 & March 2025: BBC undercover reporters capture footage of Bechi attending religious events.
- August 2025: Indonesia's Ministry of Immigration and Corrections reports Bechi was released due to sentence remissions.
Why This Matters
The case highlights tensions between institutional power, victim protection and transparency in Indonesia’s justice system. Survivors and advocates say the early release and lack of communication to witnesses risk retraumatizing victims and undermining trust in legal protections for students at religious schools.
What remains unresolved: the exact basis for Bechi’s remissions and who authorized them; why victims were not informed despite witness protection protocols; and whether stronger oversight and accountability measures will be put in place at pesantren nationwide.
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