Teacher who sexually abused pupil back in Indonesia jail after BBC investigation

What the report says

A former teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a student in Indonesia has been sent back to prison after a BBC investigation found he had been quietly released on parole before completing half of his sentence. The case centers on Mochamad Subchi Azal Tsani, known as Bechi, who was sentenced in 2022 to seven years in jail after being found guilty in connection with abuse at his father’s Islamic boarding school in East Java. BBC Eye reported that he was released in August 2025 without the victim being told, despite what the broadcaster said was her right to be informed.

According to the BBC, the revelation triggered public anger, demands from lawmakers for scrutiny, and a government review of the parole process. That review concluded there had been errors, leading officials to revoke the release and return Bechi to custody. Indonesia’s Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto said those responsible for approving the parole would face sanctions, and that authorities wanted to prevent similar irregularities in future.

The case has renewed attention on how allegations of sexual abuse are handled in religious and educational institutions, especially when the accused has influence or a large following. The BBC also reported that one former student, Ira Puspitasari, described years of abuse and said the reversal of Bechi’s release felt like recognition for victims. More broadly, the reporting has fed into a parliamentary hearing and wider debate over accountability, victim protection and the handling of abuse allegations in Indonesia.