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utch pedophile Jan Jacobus Vogel was sentenced to three years imprisonment in a trial at Singaraja District Court in Buleleng regency on Tuesday.

The sentence of three years imprisonment and a fine of Rp 60 million (US$6,200) or one additional month behind bars was lighter than the prosecutor'€™s demand for four years imprisonment and a fine of Rp 150 million or an additional three months imprisonment.

Head judge Sri Hariyani stated that Vogel'€™s philanthropic activities had been taken into consideration when passing the more lenient verdict.

Meanwhile, the psychological trauma that Vogel may have inflicted through his sexual harassment of minors was regarded as worthy of punishment.

Vogel was proven guilty of seducing minors, which led to sexual harassment, in violation of article 82 of Law No. 23/2002 on child protection.

Vogel appeared to consult with his lawyer Geoffrey Nanuliatta after the verdict was announced. They said that they would consider the sentence.

Similarly, public attorney I Putu Ambara also said he would consider the sentence.

From behind bars, Vogel said that he would file an appeal.

'€œI have never done what I was accused of. I will file an appeal. I want another trial. I have been here for three years, I never did that,'€ he said.

Dozens of villagers from Enjungsanghyang hamlet in Kaliasem village, Banjar district, flocked to the court room during the final session of the trial on Tuesday. Among them were the witnesses and even victims carrying banners stating: Free Vogel, he is innocent.

After the verdict was announced, Vogel was cheered like a hero by the villagers.

Some victims even shed tears as they insisted that Vogel was not guilty.

Vogel was charged with the sexual harassment of four children with the initials RM, AW, SA and MH. However, during early trial sessions, the victims and witnesses revoked the testimonies they had declared in the affidavits, reasoning that they had been pressured by the investigators to corner Vogel.

Apparently, although most of the villagers and the victims'€™ relatives were on Vogel'€™s side, the teachers of the neighborhood elementary school 2 Kaliasem believed Vogel was guilty.

At one time, Vogel forced entry into a classroom to find one of the children that received his financial support. The teachers eventually interfered and expelled him from the school premises.

Psychiatrist Cokorda Bagus Jaya Lesmana acknowledged that in many cases pedophiles showed polite and generous traits.

'€œThey make their approach slowly, helping out the poor. After they feel secure, they start to harass,'€ he said.