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ince the beginning, many have questioned the legal process of the high-profile case of sexual abuse against a student at Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS), previously known as Jakarta International School. Two teachers at the school are also on trial for sexually abusing the same boy and two others.

The only female defendant was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rp 100 million (US$8,051) by the South Jakarta District Court on Monday for her involvement in the case, while four male defendants were sentenced to eight years each in prison and also fined Rp 100 million. Another janitor died in police custody; the police said he committed suicide by drinking floor cleaner.

The verdicts, which are being appealed, should nevertheless be respected as a strong signal to would-be child abusers; the victims face long, hidden trauma, while cases rarely reach court.

However, in the JIS case, the collecting of evidence and the indictment, which did not refer to the results of medical examinations of the convicts, have raised allegations of foul play. Any accused party would resist allegations. However, among others, the court rejected the revoking of testimonies on the grounds that the cleaners had been tortured. The reported suicide of one janitor during police custody still haunts the credibility of the entire case. The National Police must be constantly encouraged to improve its collection of evidence.

The court decisions would '€œhave a significant impact on Indonesia'€™s reputation abroad'€, US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake was quoted as saying.

For now the verdicts  end a long and painful trial that involved constant questioning of a child'€™s traumatic experience and the intense, divisive reaction of other parents and alumni of the school, many of whom have shared their views in our readers'€™ forums.

Trials involving the very young and weak are painful in the process of establishing evidence. Facing adults at school, at the police station and at the courthouse, with its throngs of journalists, would not be an easily forgettable experience, apart from the crime itself.

The case became even more confusing as more suspects were dragged in, even from the management and staff of the well-respected school. It is one of the oldest institutions in the capital'€™s community, the almamater of thousands of proud students.

Monitoring of children must improve in all schools. Safe ways for children to report abuse are also urgent. No more families will want to report such crimes if they fear the worst, that the criminal will walk free if his legal counselors can prove the legal process was far from credible.

The convicts have said they will appeal to a higher court, meaning there is still an opportunity for the law enforcers to look into the case. A fairer investigation process into this case, as well as another case involving two JIS teachers, should be carried out not to please any party but as part of the effort to uphold the law and to end rampant abuse of children.