Neil Bantleman sex assault trial: Vigil in Burlington Monday

Supporters of Neil Bantleman will hold a vigil for him Monday night in Burlington, Ont.

On Thursday April 2, the elementary school teacher could be found guilty of sexually assaulting three young boys in Indonesia. That could come with 12-years in an Indonesian prison. Prosecutors asked for a 12-year sentence earlier in March.

Bantleman's supporters insist that the Burlington teacher and his co-accused, teaching assistant Ferdinant Tjiong, are innocent of all charges.

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The vigil is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday night at the Burlington Lawn Bowling Club. Organizers expect about 100 supporters will attend. They plan to light 260 white candles in support of Bantleman and Tijong to mark the 260 days the two men have spent in jail.

The two men are being tried on charges of violating the Child Protection Law, which provides a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail.

Indonesian prosecutor Nurhayati told reporters, after a hearing in early March, that the suspects traumatized their victims and that motivated the call for a longer jail term.

Neil's brother, Guy Bantleman, said he was in "disbelief" at the situation his brother is facing, and "frustrated" with what he called a lack of help from the Canadian government.

"Every time something comes out, I shake my head in utter amazement that we're at this point," Bantleman said. "We haven't seen one piece of evidence... This truly is a case built on greed, a case built on allegations."

In December, five janitors at the school were sentenced to up to eight years in jail in the sexual abuse of one of the children.

Bantleman's family has been urging Ottawa to publicly declare its support for the Ontario man. He taught in Calgary for 10 years before working at the Jakarta school.

With files from the Associated Press