World Of Secrets - Catching My Teacher: 3. Is this how you repay me?

Episode Date: October 5, 2026

The students' former headmaster — the man they revered and called “Father” — knows all about their undercover investigation into him. Evidence Zia submitted just weeks ago to the body that oversees their school, after they promised to help them get justice. Instead a cover up has begun. They will record it all, but can Yusron, Zia and Sukma withstand the pressure they are now under?This series of World of Secrets contains references to sexual abuse.Listen to the Indonesian language version of the podcast here: https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/podcasts/p0btnmzxVoice actors: Prilly Latuconsina, Omara Esteghlal, Adelina Lece-Bere, Paul Agusta. Presenter: Rebecca Henschke Series producers: Endang Nurdin and Rebecca Henschke Sound recordings: Dwiki Marta Original music: Alffy Rev Sound design: Andy Fell Executive producer: Neil McCarthy Commissioning senior producers: Anne Dixey and Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon Manel

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Listen on BBC.com, the BBC app, or wherever you get your podcasts. In Cairo, Zia's hiding from the heat of the day. She's scrolling through Instagram. Her best friend, Mahima, is lying. next to her. When Abba's daughter comes rushing in, she's also studying in Cairo, and she's holding out her phone.

Her dad is on the line, asking to urgently speak with Zia. When I picked it up, he said his daughter couldn't hear this. I had to move away, so we went into the next room, closed the door. It was just me, and Mahima,

in an empty room. I muted to call for a second and said to Mahima, turn your recording on, quick, like really fast. Story is being shared across Lombok. Your story, child, through Yusran. It is spreading. Can we make sure I don't go to prison? Let me go to jail, my child.

Don't let the police shut the school down, child. How can we stop this? My heart was raising. I felt a bit scared too. Like, what's going to happen now? I was just like, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I was trying my best to stay focused so I could actually respond properly to what Abba was saying. Mehima is mouthing. Stay strong. Tell them, tell them, I never did anything to you. But you did, Abba.

Yes, child, but did I realize? sexually abuse you? Abba, it was abuse. No, Lord Child, if that was abuse, then I apologize. Please forgive me. But if you tell the police, then I'm ruined. The boarding school is ruined. The organization is ruined, my child.

What do you think you'll tell the police? This was someone I used to trust so much. Someone I was supposed to be. someone I was supposed to follow, but now he was actually telling me to lie. Think of it as like something between a father and their child. Think of it like that, so you won't be lying. That would be a lie, Abba. It's different. Yes, it was a mistake, child. I've repented.

If it was once, maybe. But it wasn't. Child, don't you remember me? I trained and met him. for 10 years. Is this how you repay me? I don't want to make the wrong decision. There's too much at stake.

We'll talk about it, Abba. We'll try to find the best way forward. Zia hangs up and hugs Mahima. There is too much at stake. This is World of Secrets. Season 13 from the BBC World Service. Catching my teacher. I'm Rebecca Hinchki.

Episode 3. Is this how you repay me? It's early evening in Lombok on the same day. Yusran's parents are relaxing on their tiled terrace with their daughter under the shade of the mango tree that stretches over their house. When a black car pulls up and out get Abba and Umi. They've never visited before, and now they're here, unannounced. His mum rushes in to make tea,

while his dad invites Abba to sit in the best chair. There's a word in Indonesian, Basa Basi. It's a key part of most interactions. Small talk, polite, essential, dancing around before you come to the point. Abba is in no mood for Basabasi. He's agitated, tells them. he needs to speak to Yusron now. Get him on the phone, he tells them.

So his sister messages him and hands Abba her phone. In Jakarta, Yusra receives her message. Find somewhere quiet now. And when he calls and Abba answers, he too hits record. Secretly capturing it all. My child, I'm so sorry. Someone just came to my house and told me about your writing about Sukma and the others. Abba knows all about Yusron's seven-page document.

The one Zia submitted just weeks ago to the body that oversees their school after they promised justice. How about the story nanda? What happened? Why did you write that? I'm worried. If it were up to me, maybe I wouldn't have dared. But I received guidance to report it.

And that's why I did it. Yes, Aba. When it comes to respect, Aba, I still respect you. This is my way of showing my love for you. My child will be shut down because of this. Sorry, Aba. I haven't taken any further action. We handed it over to the organization.

You know, Allah. Meas are using it to destroy the school. But... ...to be it really happened or not, Aba. Did it happen? I'm afraid I might be questioned as well. No word expelled. As long as your teacher is safe,

safe and the school is safe. Say you're sorry if you're asked. Say you're sorry. I'm here. Say, forgive me. Those were just silly writings. Now I've apologized. I've apologized to Sukma told her to be silent and she will say it never happened. If you are still in contact with her and one that do. Tell them to be quiet. Say it never happened. He destroyed. It's not. Not the way to treat your father, my child. I'm nothah, y'all-ah, tutu, my guru. Everyone makes mistakes, my child.

Should I, should I write a new statement, Abba? Say a poor Abba. Inshallah, Abba won't press charges? My child, we forgive each other, my child. There's a group, that's why. Come on, my child, you can write it. Is innocent. My teacher is innocent. Say that nine times.

Yes, Abba. If you want to go to Egypt, I'm ready to pay for everything. I promise you. I'll fund it. For the sake of the organization. Yes, Aba. Before I send it to anyone else, I'll send it to you first. I'm upset. I'm willing to go to jail. You say that, my child. Your blessings won't vanish because of this silly report. Write it quickly and send it back to me.

Yes. Please pray for me, Abba. This world and a year after. In body and soul, my child. I will entrust your name to thousands of students, so they include you in their nightly prayers. I support you, my child. One day you'll teach at our school and help it grow. Yeshalam alaikum and Allah and barocato. Anda-a-a-a-salaam and rahmatel-ah-bara-a-barocatu.

Yusram puts down the phone and tries to process what just happened. It affected me. That's why I asked him, what am I supposed to do? I felt really bad for him because I had never heard him crying like that. There was still this strong bond between us as student and teacher. He's someone I truly respected. And now he was crying like this.

It was like a child seeing their parents crying because of something they did wrong. Hearing him like that, pleading like that, it really moved me. This unexpected call, Abba's tears, his pleas, talk of the police, the school being destroyed, of loyalty. Hearing him like this makes Eusron's resolve crumble.

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NASA rescued Hubble. The future of space astronomy depends on it. From the BBC World Service, 13 minutes, trouble with Hubble. Listen now, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Sukma had just returned from her family farm in Flores and is spending the final days of the summer holidays with some friends in Mataram, the capital of Lombok. She's left her phone on charge while they eat. And when she turns to it, there's miss calls. And the same number is calling again.

She doesn't recognise it, but when she answers, she catches her breath. It's Abba. He sounds stressed He orders her to return to school immediately A day after she returns She's called into Abba's house At night But this time Umi is there

In front of his wife He confronts her He asked me in this angry voice I have never done anything to you have I I have never touched you Then Abba and Umi start arguing She was saying, don't speak to her like that. Don't speak to her in that tone.

Umi can be fierce. I just kept quiet. I was thinking about Umi. How could I say the truth in front of her? Abba kept saying, come on, my child, come on, my child, answer me. I have never touched you. I didn't say anything.

I just started crying. Then Aba leaves the room. And Sukma is left alone with Umi. I told her that I didn't want to say the truth in front of Abba because I respect her. And then I told her everything. I told her that I am not the only one. There are other girls too.

I told her their names and how whenever Umi is not at home, Abba always called for someone. And she thought I approach him or I, I told her I would never do something like that because first he's my teacher and he's a married man. I could never. And she said, sorry.

And then she asked me what he did to me. So I was honest and told her everything. And then she cried. And she was crying a lot. Sucma reaches out for her hand, squeezes it. This is a woman she respects, fears a little. It's uncomfortable and she just wants to leave. After a while, Umi gets up and goes into the bedroom to find Abba.

Sukh hears them arguing but can't make out what they're saying. And then they come back into the living room together. Abba saw me. He just dropped to his knees right in front of me. Like he was praying, his head was lowered. He said, my child, this is my fault. I'm the one to blame. Please, please forgive me.

I'm the one that falls. He kept saying stuff like that. He said all of this in front of his wife. It was clear, so clear that she forced him to say it. He promised again and again that he would never do something like that again. Omie refuses to look at him. But Sukma can see her eyes afield. filled with tears. Her face is red and puffy.

He slowly stood up and said, come on, my child. Forgive, forgive your father. My child, you will be blessed. And then he also says something like, if you speak up or report this to the police, the school will be destroyed. People will burn the school down. I fought for the school for so long, my child.

His hands were trembling and damped. with sweat. Umi wouldn't even look at him. Then I hugged Umi. I just wanted to comfort her. After that, I left. Yusran's mom and dad are packing. Outside they can see Abba's

familiar black car. It's waiting to take them to the airport, to Jakarta, to find their son. Ava wanted my mother brought to Jakarta, but my father wouldn't let her go go alone. He insisted they had to go together. He was worried that if my mum went by herself, something might happen. Honestly, his mind was racing. He was even scared. He thought, what if they were going to make us disappear? That's how anxious he was.

The goal of the trip is for Eusron's parents to help persuade their son, to write a counter-document, like the one he promised Abba he would write. on that call. A statement saying his seven-page document was all lies. During that phone call, I was under so much pressure, intense pressure, to think the way he wanted me to think, go in the direction he wanted me to go. But after I had the chance to stop and think, I wasn't being pressured anymore, being told,

you have to do this, you have to do that. I could be quiet for a moment, be in my own head and breathe. and think. So what do I want to do now? There was finally some space to think. He talks to Zia. She shares the recording of her call. Think of it as like something between the father and their child. And he listens to Abba, applying the same pressure. And hears him admit that he did abuse her. And Sukma too. And here's Zia pushing back. If it was once, maybe.

But he wasn't. He's released from Abba's spell. He will not lie for him. He blocks his number. Then I got word that a lawyer was looking for me. Someone from school called a friend of mine asking for my address in Jakarta so the lawyer could find me. I was told that Abba had paid the lawyer to track me down. Then two lawyers turn up at his college in Jakarta.

And once again, Yusron's. secretly records. One of the men introduces himself as Husnan Wadi. They want to know more about his evidence document. But Yusron

demands to know more before he tells them anything. Who are you representing? Who sent you? He demands to know. They confirm they're representing NWDI, the body that oversees the school.

and that the head of the organisation knows they're here. They keep talking for another 30 minutes, unaware they're being recorded. At one point, they say they have spoken to Ava, and that he didn't confess, but from his body language, it seemed to them that the allegations are true. But it's clear their priority is containment. Don't let this blow up. We don't want anyone outside the organisation,

to know, let's handle this internally, they say. But Yusron will not cooperate. He no longer trusts the organisation. So now, Abba is going to try and use his parents.

They were thinking, the only remaining way to convince me to do it was to bring my parents to see me. The idea was that if my parents cried in front of me, I would break. And then he would give them what they wanted. That statement or a video saying it was all lies. Abba had been wearing his parents down with repeated calls and visits.

They were exhausted. My mum basically reached the point of saying, Fine, if it'll make all of you stop, I'll just go along with whatever you want. Abba pays for their tickets. It's his mum's first time on a plane, first time leaving Lombok. They landed in Jakarta around eight or nine in the morning, and immediately started searching for me.

But she had told him they were coming. I'd already disgusted with the others. I thought, with lawyers, I can still argue with them, debate with them. But if my parents arrive, no matter what, I would break, especially because my mother had already been briefed to cry and plead with me. So Yusron's prepared. After asking permission from his college, head, he'd checked into a hotel under a fake name. As soon as I heard my parents were definitely coming to Jakarta, I deleted my WhatsApp

and removed my SIM card. The only ones who knew my number were a friend who was helping me and Zia. Nobody else knew where I was staying, including my mother. His friend secretly films them, sitting outside the college dorm on plastic chairs. Eustron watches it in his hotel room, zooming in on a lot of. Aba. His face was red. He looked exhausted, like completely drained. They offered him a proper place to rest, but he chose the worst chair. He looked like someone who'd lost his mind. No appetite, no energy. With no sleep, they make the two-hour flight back to Lombok. On the way there, Abba and Umi had treated his parents like respected guests, making sure they were always comfortable,

had plenty of food and water. On the way back, it's the opposite. It was like, they didn't know my parents anymore. Nobody spoke until they reached Lombok airport. That's when Umi finally said something. She told my mom, if Yusuron gets back in touch, tell him Umi says he must repent. She was already in a fragile state, and then suddenly hearing things like repent or your son's religious knowledge, blessing will all be taken away. She had placed her trust in Abba's spiritual authority. So when his wife Umi says this, that her son Yusron might lose Allah's blessing, she believes her. My mom said when we finally spoke again, I know what you're doing is noble.

I know you're trying to help your friend. But I'm not strong enough anymore. Then she said, there are only two choices now. Either you keep helping your friend or lose your mother. That's how overwhelmed she was. My mom literally said, choose, continue this, or choose your mom dying. Yusron had, with time, faced off Abba and the lawyers. But he couldn't face this.

It's three days after Sukma was suddenly called back to school and she's again being summoned to Abba's house. This time it's in the day and this time in their living room the atmosphere is cold. Umi now stands beside her husband. I looked at Umi and thought, Yeah Allah, I have told you everything. Also in the room are two police officers.

and a lawyer who hands her a document. It's Umi who speaks. My child, please help. That's next time on World of Secrets. This has been episode three of five of season 13 of World of Secrets, catching my teacher from the BBC World Service. We put our investigation findings and all the allegations to Husnan Wadi, the lawyer for NWDI, and he replied in a written statement,

saying they were still investigating the allegations internally and deny ever trying to cover up sexual abuse claims in their educational institutions. He also said they had a duty to safeguard the organization from being tarnished by the alleged actions of individuals. Sukma is voiced by Adelina Lechebere, Sia by Prili Latukoncina. Us run by Omara Esteglal, and Paul Augusta is Abah.

World of Secrets, Catching My Teacher, is written and produced by Rebecca Hensky and me, Endang Nourdin, sound recordings by Duiki Marta. The sound design and mix is by Andy Fell, original music by Alfiref, and the executive producer is Neil McCarthy. It was a BBCI investigation for the BBC World Service. Thanks for listening. Thank you. Thank you.

Don't forget, there are many more seasons of World of Secrets that you can listen to right now. If you want to mendangar podcast this in BASAID-Indonesia, silken chari Aip Sanguru. How did it all begin? How did we get here? How long is the universe going to last? Is it going to span forever? Are we alone?

The Hubble Space Telescape promised to answer, fundamental questions about the universe. One, and lift-off of the space shuttle discovery with the Hubble Space Telescope. In 1990, after years of delays and millions of dollars of overspend, the telescope was safely in orbit. The world waited with bated breath for its first images.

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