INDONESIA-SCHOOL/COURT Indonesia court rejects sex abuse lawsuit against international school

Record ID: 144393

  • Title: INDONESIA-SCHOOL/COURT Indonesia court rejects sex abuse lawsuit against international school
  • Date: 10th August 2015
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (AUGUST 10, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF SOUTH JAKARTA COURT SIGN OF SOUTH JAKARTA COURT COURT VISITOR AT COURT ROOM COURT SESSION ONGOING PROSECUTOR TEAM LISTENING TO JUDGE PROSECUTOR COURT SESSION IN PROGRESS DEFENCE TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) PRESIDING JUDGE, HASWANDI SAYIN
  • Embargoed: 25th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5FY15BE64ZNJTYDP4GT91DJHQ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A Jakarta court on Monday (August 10) threw out a multi-million dollar sex abuse lawsuit against an international school, raising hopes for two teachers who were jailed in a related case that had triggered concerns about the justice system in Indonesia.
    The Jakarta Intercultural School, a U.S.-embassy backed school, was sued for $125 million last year by a parent who claimed her son had been sexually abused by staff on school grounds.
    Monday's ruling came after two teachers, a Canadian national and an Indonesian national, were jailed in April for abusing kindergarten pupils in a separate criminal case that critics say was fraught with irregularities.
    Many expatriates and diplomats in Jakarta send their children to the school, previously known as the Jakarta International School.
    "Regarding this principal case, we are declaring that the accusation from the plaintiff will not be accepted. The plaintiff will pay the court fee," Judge Haswandi told a packed Jakarta courtroom.
    Harry Ponto, a lawyer representing the school, told reporters Monday's decision could affect those sentences.
    "You know that before this lawsuit, the Jakarta International School had been judged by the public, hopefully this case will bring some light and have a positive impact for our teachers and janitors who we believe are innocent," he said.
    Members of the foreign community welcomed Monday's verdict, saying it would boost confidence in the judicial system, which is often seen as one of the least credible and consistent institutions in the country.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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