Your story Teacher’s sexual abuse trial begins (by the Canadian Press and published in the Advocate on Dec. 24) prompted me to write this letter.
Neil Bantleman, the teacher in this story, has been detained for months in a Jakarta prison, based on false allegations and absolutely no evidence!
The mother of the alleged victim has made many wild accusations (magic stones and alleged crimes behind glass walls during the school day), in order to justify her $125-million lawsuit against the prestigious Jakarta Intercultural School.
Our pleas to the Canadian government are being ignored. They have responded with “let the courts in Jakarta render due process.”
Well you know what, Stephen Harper, John Baird and Lynne Yelich, due process is being ignored, in favour of hopes of a huge cash settlement.
What about truth and justice? What about the violation of a Canadian’s human rights abroad?
Neil Bantleman is a man of strong moral character, as everyone who knows him can attest to. This is simply a miscarriage of justice, motivated by greed.
Shame, shame, shame on the Canadian government!
Donna Glover
Red Deer