Sex Offender Mas Bechi Released Early: What's the Mechanism?

Mas Bechi (MSAT), who was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexual offenses, has been released on parole (Pembebasan Bersyarat, PB) after serving less than two-thirds of his sentence. The Surabaya District Court handed down the seven-year sentence in November 2022, but the Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjenpas) announced that Bechi officially became eligible for parole on August 20, 2025. This decision creates a significant gap between the sentence imposed by the court and the actual time served. Indonesian law stipulates that to be eligible for parole, an inmate must have served at least two-thirds of their sentence, with a minimum of nine months. Additionally, good behavior, active participation in rehabilitation programs, and demonstrated reduction in risk levels are required. In Bechi's case, two-thirds of his seven-year sentence should be approximately four years and eight months. However, the Directorate General of Corrections explained that the application of remission (pengurangan masa pidana) accelerated the fulfillment of this requirement. He was detained on July 8, 2022, and released on parole on August 20, 2025. This means he served approximately three years and one month in calendar time, about one year and seven months less than the two-thirds mark of his seven-year sentence. According to Ditjenpas, Bechi's remission shortened his sentence, bringing the date for fulfilling two-thirds of his sentence forward to July 23, 2025. Remission is a reduction in prison time granted to inmates who meet certain criteria, such as good behavior and active participation in rehabilitation programs. However, the specific details of the remission granted to Bechi and the exact calculation of the reduction have not been publicly disclosed. This lack of transparency has raised public questions. Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has stated that an investigation into the remission and parole process for Bechi will be conducted to ensure there were no irregularities. Remission is not automatically granted; it requires inmates to meet specific conditions. The case of Mas Bechi highlights not only the calculation of the two-thirds sentence but also the need for transparency and fairness in the application of remission, a process that is supposed to be based on strict legal requirements and demonstrable good conduct. Source: Suara.com