An international journalist’s view of Bantleman trial

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It wasn’t just Neil Bantleman’s family that found the proceedings bizarre. International journalists covering the trial in Jakarta, also have a lot of questions about the process and conclusion.
“Some of the evidence seemed surreal and irrelevant”. Jewel Topsfield covered the verdict for Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald. “There was some quite bizarre evidence that was given. There was a well-known Indonesian sex counsellor who talked about how he only had sex with his wife once a week and this was considered abnormal.”

On the other hand, an Australian expert testified that when the children were questioned, it was done so suggestively that false memories could have been planted in their minds. That testimony was dismissed.

“Of course the case is complicated by the fact that the mother of one of the victims is suing the school for 125 million U.S dollars. So the lawyers for the defence feel that it’s all about money.”

Students and staff at the school where Bantleman taught were in court to support him and his co-accused. “And they were all out in force wearing white which is quite a striking visual effect, as you can imagine in the courtroom. They were very emotional.”

She says the judges spent hour after hour simply repeating the prosecutor’s case. Then Bantleman was sentenced. “He had one minute to decide at the end of the verdict whether he would appeal. He said yes right away, he said this has been a miscarriage of justice and we will fight until the truth prevails. So there were incredible scenes after that where people were standing on their chairs and cheering when he announced he would appeal the decision.”

Burlington MP Mike Wallace says he was hoping Bantleman would be exonerated, and he says Canadian officials will continue to support him and make sure he’s safe, has access to his family, and basic needs are met. But he also says there are Canadians in jails around the world and they’re all subject to the legal systems in those countries. He says consular officials can’t just hand out get out of jail free cards.