Could be six to eight months before judicial process moves forward for Neil Bantleman

OTTAWA – The family of a Canadian teacher jailed in Indonesia says that it’ll take another six to eight months before he can feasibly be freed.

Last month Indonesia’s high court overturned Neil Bantleman’s acquittal of charges of sexually abusing children and he was put back in prison.

Bantleman has maintained his innocence since he was accused of abusing three children at an international school in Jakarta.

Bantleman’s brother Guy has spent the last few days in Ottawa meeting with Canadian government officials and MPs.

Guy Bantleman says that the latest information from Indonesia is that it could take six to eight months for the judicial process to move forward.

He says they expected to receive the judge’s written decision on why the acquittal was overturned more than ten days ago, and they still haven’t heard anything.

“In the Canadian legal system, there are deadlines you have to meet. But in Indonesia, it’s not the same case, and that’s frustrating,” Guy Bantleman said.

He says Canadian officials are looking at ways to bring his brother home sooner, both through legal and diplomatic means.