A sports teacher in Wonogiri, Central Java, has been sentenced to 15 years in jail and ordered to pay Rp 60 million (US$4,305) in fines after being found guilty of sexually abusing dozens of his students over two years.

The sentence, handed down by Wonogiri District Court on Friday, was one year longer than demanded by prosecutors, as the judges said they took into account the long-term trauma he had caused his victims, who were between the ages of 10 and 12 and in grades 5 and 6.

The teacher, identified as 42-year-old Suratno, was reduced to tears as the judges read out the sentence, he had repeatedly denied sexually assaulting the children. He argued that he would never commit such a crime and that physical contact was a natural part of teaching sports, swimming and martial arts.

The court dismissed his defense, arguing that the evidence presented had proven otherwise.

Prosecutors wrote in their indictment that Suratno’s victims had testified that they were assaulted in his office, empty classrooms and washrooms. They also provided a medical report, proving that one student had been raped and expert testimony proving that the assaults were deliberate acts.

Suratno is believed to have assaulted 33 students between 2016 and 2017, according to the police.

The investigation into Suratno began in November 2017 when one student refused to go school. When her parents asked her why, she said she was afraid of being touched by her teacher and her parents immediately reported this to the police. (nor/ahw)