Jailed teacher convicted of sexual abuse secretly released early in Indonesia, BBC finds
A BBC investigation has revealed that an Indonesian teacher convicted of sexual assault was secretly released from prison early. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the lack of oversight and accountability in Islamic boarding schools.
Why it matters
It exposes systemic issues regarding the protection of students and the influence of religious figures in the Indonesian justice system.
An Indonesian teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a student at an Islamic boarding school has been secretly released from prison early, a BBC Eye investigation has found.
Moch Subchi Azal Tsani or Bechi, as he is known, is the son of an influential Islamic religious leader. His trial sent shockwaves through Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country where millions of parents send their children to Islamic boarding schools.
He was arrested in 2022 at his father's school in East Java where he had taught, after a 15-hour siege involving nearly 1,000 riot police - his family's supporters had gathered in large numbers to prevent his arrest. He was sentenced to seven years in prison later that year.
The government withdrew the school's operating licence, but then President Joko Widodo intervened to keep the school open, arguing that the case involved an individual rather than the institution.
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