Indonesian court finds Canadian teacher guilty of sexually abusing three students

Indonesian teaching assistant Ferdinand Tjiong, left, and Canadian school administrator
Neil Bantleman wait inside a court detention cell to face the verdict.

An Indonesian court has found former Calgary teacher Neil Bantleman guilty of child sexual abuse and has sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

He was arrested last July along with an Indonesian teaching assistant and accused of sexually abusing three students at the Jakarta International School.

Prosecutors were seeking a 12-year prison sentence. They told reporters after a hearing last month that heavy sentences were being sought because as teachers, Bantleman and Tijong had traumatized the victims.

His brother Guy told The Canadian Press he believed the judge threw out the evidence and witnesses that the defence presented.

Both Bantleman and his co-accused, Ferdinant Tijong, were accused of violating Indonesia’s Child Protection Law, which provides a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail.  (more...)

Indonesian court finds Canadian teacher guilty of sexually abusing three students