Neil Bantleman's brother doubts his sibling will work overseas again

Free after more than a year behind bars in Indonesia, Neil Bantleman is now taking some time to reconnect with his wife.

"We'll let them have some quiet time for about three or four days and then the team will get together and figure out next steps and if, and when, we can get Neil out of Indonesia and back to Canada," his brotherGuy Bantlemantold the Calgary Eyeopener on Friday morning.

• Neil Bantleman freed after sex assault conviction overturned by Indonesian court

It's been a whirlwind week for Bantleman's family and friends, who fought hard to keep the former Calgary teacher's story in the limelight since his arrest in July of last year

Bantleman was sent toa Jakarta prison following sexual assault allegations from the parents of a six-year-old boy who attended the international school where he worked.

He was found guilty in April 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

In May, Bantleman filed an appeal to the Jakarta High Court,which overturned convictions against him and Indonesian teaching assistantFerdinantTjiong.

"Over the last several weeks we've see the house of cards, or the lies, that the prosecutor's case was built on kind of fall apart," said Guy Bantleman.

"I think ultimately, it was really the high court having the autonomyand the time to look through all the reported evidence and really understand what was going and on really see there was nothing here."

Canadian freed after sex abuse conviction overturned in Indonesia

9 years ago

Duration 2:48

Neil Bantleman cleared by high court in appeal hearing. Indonesia's justice system was subjected to international criticism for how the case was prosecuted

While Guy Bantlemansays he's"elated" to see his brother walk free, he doubts Neil and his wife, Tracy, will ever want to work abroad again.

"I think they'd look long and hard before they considered working in another country."

Guy Bantlemansays the whole ordeal especially took a toll on his parents, buthe says it also revealed thegoodness in people.

"Those sort of people who stepped up and continued to write letters and hold vigils and run campaigns, that's the most heart-warming part out of all of this."

Did Ottawa do enough?

But Guy Bantlemandidn't gush about theCanadian government in the same way.

"In a word, their role was frustrating. From our local MP to foreign affairs to minister of state to the PMO, there really wasn't any support at that level."

HoweverUniversity of Calgary law professor Kathleen Mahoney says consular officials can only do so much.

"They can give advice on, you know, lists of lawyers for example that are available. But they can't interfere in any way with the justice system, just as if someone, a foreigner in Canada, was charged with a criminal offence, their consular authorities cannot interfere with the justice system. Ithas to run its course," she said.

"Consular services are there to help but they're not there to bail you out of jail, they're not there to provide money to you from the government of Canada."

Mahoney sayspeople who want to work overseas have to be aware of local laws and customs and the cultural practices that could get them into trouble.

Guy Bantlemansays his brother will likely return to Canada in the fall and spend time in Calgary and then Ontario.

He said he is not sure if the prosecutor will appeal the decision.

Friend ecstatic

In Calgary, Neil Bantleman'sfriend Joel Chalifoux said he wasecstatic when he heard the news.

"I knew he was innocent. I mean I've known him for so long, he's like a brother to me. There's no way a man of his character and integrity would ever do something like this," he said.

Alie Ronellenfitch, who lived in Jakarta until recently and whose daughter attended the school where Bantleman taught, also saidit was clear neither man was guilty.

"Itreally reminded you, it reminded all of us overseas how tenuous your safety and your security can be," she said.