Neil Bantleman unlikely to leave Indonesia before Christmas

Neil Bantleman's family in Canada hoped to spend Christmas together for the first time in three years, but Bantlemanis still notable to leave Indonesia.

After beingfreed from jail in August, Bantleman controversially convicted onchild sexual assault charges that were overturnedon appealis free within Indonesia. His wife, Tracy, is also there.But he can't leave whilean appeal ofthe decision to free him remainsbefore the country's supreme court, according to an update from his family.

In August,an Indonesian high court overturnedan earlier conviction from a district court. That earlier rulingfound Bantleman and teacher's aide Ferdinant Tjiongguiltyof sexually assaultingthree kindergarten students at Jakarta International School (JIS), now known as Jakarta Intercultural School.

The Jakarta prosecutor has filed anappeal to the supreme court of the high court's decision to free Bantleman and Tjiong.

• Neil Bantleman freed, but child sex assault cases far from over
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• Neil Bantleman can't leave Indonesia as prosecutors appeal

"At this time we wait on the Supreme Court to review all material provided and opine on the matter," said Bantleman's brother, Guy Bantleman, in an update to media on Thursday.

"We were hopeful that the end of 2015 would also bring an end to this nightmare and our family could celebrate Christmas together for the first time in three years, but that timeline at this point seems unrealistic," Guy Bantleman said."The fight for Neil's freedom will continue into the new year, but it is a fight we know we will win."

A Burlington, Ont. native, NeilBantleman also taught in Calgary.