Neil Bantleman : teacher jailed in Indonesia likely to learn charges

The Burlington teacher who’s been trapped behind bars in Indonesia for months, accused of sexual abuse at a school in Jakarta, will now have his case heard in court.

Neil Bantleman’s indictment will be read on Tuesday.

“We are expecting trial to start on Tuesday with the reading of the indictment,” said the accused’s wife, Tracy Bantleman, via email.

Neil Bantleman, 45, who taught at Calgary’s Webber Academy for 10 years, and Ferdinand Tijong, his colleague at Jakarta International School, are accused of sexually abusing students at the facility and have been jailed without charge since July 10.

Both men deny the allegations, and Bantleman’s family in Canada has been working tirelessly for months to free him.

Guy Bantleman said his brother and Tijong were moved to their own single cell at Cipinang Penitentiary Institution, a high-security prison in Jakarta, on Wednesday.

“They are still becoming accustomed to this prison and the rules and regulations of this larger detention facility. It has been an extremely stressful time, particularly now that the trial is confirmed,” Guy Bantleman said in an email.

Agencies/Canadajournal