Neil Bantleman appeals Jakarta child sex abuse verdict

Lawyers for Neil Bantleman filed a formal appeal on Wednesday after the Canadian teacher was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Indonesia on child sex assault convictions. He continues to deny the allegations which he and his family say have been fabricated.

The case raised questions about the Indonesian legal system, and Bantleman's lawyers are urging the country's high court to overturn the conviction. They also plan to file anappeal forFerdinant Tjiong, a teaching assistant who is convicted on the samecharges.

• Neil Bantleman found guilty, sentenced to 10 years on Jakarta child sex charges
• VIDEO | Neil Bantleman reads, teaches in prison while wife fights on

An Indonesian court found Bantleman and Tjiongguilty ofchild rape charges in early April and sentenced the pair to a decade behind bars.

Bantleman, a Burlington, Ont., native, also taught in Calgary. He has been in custody in Jakartasince July2014.

Lawyers forBantlemanandTjionghave long complained about the process the case went through, referring to evidence they said should have been included in the process that wasn't, as well as strict time limits placed on their witnesses.

They said the allegations bythree children whoalleged repeated rape at the Jakarta Intercultural School (formerly Jakarta International School) wereconjured up to pursue a civil lawsuit against the school to the tune of $125million US.

The JIS has about 2,400 students aged three to 18. Many of them are children of diplomats and other foreigners living in the country.

Bantleman'swife Tracy told CBC Hamilton in April herhusband is teaching English to other inmates, keeping fit and reading profusely the last book he finished was the biography of NelsonMandela.Mandelaspent 27 years in South African jails.

In a separate but related case, five janitors who worked at the school also received guilty sentences for the alleged rape of a kindergartner. They are serving up to eight years in prison.