Coordinating Minister Yusril Asserts Bechi's Parole is Not a Special Privilege

The Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has emphasised that the parole granted to the former inmate involved in the Shiddiqiyyah Islamic Boarding School sexual abuse case, Moch Subchi Azal Tsani (known as Bechi), is by no means a special privilege.

“What is being done for Bechi applies to all inmates without discrimination,” Yusril told ANTARA in Jakarta on Thursday.

The Minister stated that the Director General of Correctional Services at the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Affairs has reported that Bechi was granted parole because he has completed two-thirds of his prison sentence.

During his parole period, he noted, Bechi remains under supervision. Consequently, if he is found to be involved in any crime or associated with bad actors even once, Bechi will be arrested and returned to prison to serve the remaining one-third of his sentence.

According to the Minister, the government would actually be in the wrong if it failed to grant parole to an inmate who has served two-thirds of their sentence and has behaved well while in prison.

For this reason, he hopes the public will learn to view such matters objectively and avoid applying double standards. “If you like someone, ask for their rights to be fulfilled. If you dislike them, ask for the fulfilment of their rights to be made difficult. We must be objective,” he said.

He added that the government is carrying out its mandate and duties in accordance with the prevailing law and must remain fair and objective, rather than being based on personal likes or dislikes.

Previously, the Directorate General of Correctional Services (Ditjenpas) of the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Affairs confirmed that Bechi received parole based on existing laws and regulations. The release is based on the Decree of the Minister of Immigration and Correctional Affairs Number PAS-1429.PK.05.03 of 2025, dated 15 August 2025.

“His status is parole, not absolute release. Parole is granted based on the provisions of laws and regulations and the requirements that must be met by inmates,” said Budi.

Bechi was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Surabaya District Court for the sexual abuse of students in 2022. Bechi’s release has drawn significant media scrutiny due to the receipt of remission and perceptions of a lack of transparency. Budi emphasised that the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Affairs did not provide any special treatment to Bechi during his imprisonment.