What changed
Indonesia has returned Mochamad Subchi Azal Tsani, known as Bechi, to prison after revoking his parole. Bechi was sentenced in 2022 to seven years for sexually assaulting a student at his father’s Islamic boarding school in East Java, but he was secretly released in August 2025 after serving less than half his sentence.
A government review found “errors” in the parole decision. Officials who approved it are expected to face sanctions.
Why it matters
The parole was not just an administrative misstep. The former student had a legal right to be told about Bechi’s release, but was not informed. His return to prison brought her relief after she had watched footage of him appearing publicly while he should still have been behind bars.
The case also puts attention on how authorities handle abuse allegations involving influential religious figures. A parliamentary hearing is now examining the state’s response to sexual-abuse cases in religious and educational institutions. Lawyers representing victims say investigations can be difficult when accused figures have large followings, and that they themselves have faced threats and intimidation.
The government has promised sanctions for those responsible. What remains unclear is which officials will be punished and whether the review will produce lasting changes in parole decisions or the handling of further abuse allegations.
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