Feb. 27, p5

Teacher Ferdinant Tjiong was asleep, along with his wife and two children, when state prosecutors came pounding on a window near their bed at 2 a.m. on Thursday. It was a predawn arrest of a teacher who had been found guilty without evidence, before being acquitted and then, in a cassation case at the Supreme Court, convicted again.

Tjiong and his Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) colleague Neil Bantleman, a dual citizen of Canada and the UK, were sentenced Wednesday to 11 years'€™ imprisonment each for abusing three kindergarten students at the prestigious South Jakarta school.

There is no need to question the integrity of the judges, especially justice Artidjo Alkostar who is known for having heightened the prison terms of many corrupt officials, but like it or not the guilty verdict of the two JIS teachers has raised concerns about justice and legal certainty in the country.

Your comments:

Why not question the integrity of the judges? As if the skepticism and distrust in this thoroughly corrupt system is not already there

Sorong

How much did the mother pay both the police and the court? This case is tremendously suspicious, since no solid evidence whatsoever has been provided.

Simba1991

The hospital reports from Singapore'€™s world-class facilities were clear in the case of alleged victims two and three: No interference ever happened. The first case had at least some circumstantial evidence that suggested someone had interfered with the child.

The second two were clearly hopping on the bandwagon in the hope of a juicy payout. Magic stones, hidden dungeons and self-healing wounds.

This case was not overturned by the Supreme Court despite Hogwarts-type scenarios being described.

Jakarta Logic

There was no evidence of abuse. It is a plain and simple fact. No evidence, not a shred. Magic stones and secret rooms. Are our judges corrupt?

Notgoodjoke

They were charged with gang raping the same child: 13 counts of gang rape. The child is a boy. So, why didn'€™t he show any sign of anal injury or scars that are consistent with rape?

Chotto Matte

It is an absolute travesty of justice. The justice system often follows no logic or reasoning. I thought you needed evidence before finding someone guilty of a crime. It seems that so many cases are decided by public opinion only. I am fast losing any hope for the future of this country.

Masmon

Doubt and mistrust are already there when anyone with a brain looks at the justice system. Judges above reproach or judges open to political persuasion?

The original case was amateur at best. If these guys are guilty, then throw the book at them. That'€™s a very big if though and justice must be done better than this farce.

Nate78

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