Canadian teacher imprisoned in Indonesia marks 2 years of ordeal

A Canadian teacher convicted in Indonesia on childabuse charges marked the second anniversary of his detention on
Thursday as his family called for an impartial review of his case.

Neil Bantleman has maintained his innocence ever since he wasaccused of abusing three children at an international school in theIndonesian capital of Jakarta.

In February this year, Indonesia's Supreme Court overturned alower court's acquittal of Bantleman's charges and he was put backbehind bars with an 11-year sentence after being out of prison whilehis case was heard.

• 'Justice must prevail,' Neil Bantleman writes from Indonesian prison
• Neil Bantleman's wife Tracy calls his Indonesia rearrest 'inhumane' and 'absurd'
• Wife of Canadian teacher Neil Bantleman calls for fair trial in Indonesia

The 47-year-old has called his case a complete miscarriage ofjustice and his lawyers are now preparing an application for ajudicial review of the matter.

Family frustrated

"We are focused on getting Neil out and that will happen, weknow that for a fact, it's just how long that will take,"
Bantleman's brother, Guy Bantleman told The Canadian Press in aninterview.

"We're obviously frustrated that we've had to mark a two-yearanniversary, but we are pleased that Neil is in good health and heis relatively safe and that we seem to be making some progress."

Regular calls with the federal government and Global AffairsCanada for updates on Ottawa's efforts, and the work being done forhis judicial review are all seen as positive developments, GuyBantleman said.

"They're all small steps but at least they're moving in theright direction," he said, noting that working with the Liberal
government after they were elected last fall appears to have made adifference.

"Better access, more proactive nature, more feedback, justtaking steps to have this resolved."

A panel appointed by Indonesia's Supreme Court will look atBantleman's arguments for a judicial review, his brother said. Ifthat avenue eventually fails, Bantleman's family will shift itsfocus to petitioning for a presidential pardon and furtherdiplomatic intervention.

"It's a situation of unsubstantiated accusations with nophysical or medical evidence, and a trial that lacked transparencythat has really led to this situation. In the Canadian and the U.S.judicial system we wouldn't even be talking about this," hisbrother said. "We will continue to push for a fair and impartialjudicial review process."

The case has dragged through the Indonesian justice system sinceBantleman was arrested in July 2014.

Demonstration in Toronto, vigil in Calgary

He was first convicted and handed a 10-year prison sentence lastApril and then freed in August when the conviction was overturned.But Bantleman returned to prison earlier this year when theIndonesian Supreme Court quashed his acquittal and added a year tohis sentence.

At the time, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion issued astatement saying the government was "deeply dismayed and shocked"that the acquittal ruling was overturned.

Bantleman's family has maintained that he was the victim of acorrupt Indonesian justice system.

A demonstration was held outside the Indonesian Consulate inToronto and a vigil was planned in Calgary for Thursday evening todraw attention to Neil Bantleman's ordeal.