Trials begin of cleaners over Jakarta International School sex assaults

A cleaner went on trial yesterday accused of sexual assault at one of Indonesia's most prestigious international schools, the first case to go to court in a high-profile scandal.

The crisis at the Jakarta International School, which began in April with allegations that cleaning staff had assaulted a young boy, has rocked an institution that has been a favourite with expatriates in the capital for more than 60 years.

Since the first allegation, the scandal has snowballed, with more parents making abuse claims, a Canadian staff member accused and the revelation that a suspected serial paedophile sought by the FBI had taught at the school for a decade.

Agun Iskandar, 25, was the first of five cleaners from an outside contractor who have been accused of abusing the boy to face court.

A prosecutor said Iskandar could face up to 15 years in jail if found guilty, while a lawyer for the alleged victim called for the cleaners to be punished harshly.

"The victim and family want the most severe, maximum punishment because it was a barbaric, insolent act," Andi Asrun said before the trial started at the South Jakarta district court.

However, Mada Rajendra Mardanus, a lawyer for Iskandar, insisted his client was innocent. The cleaners' legal team has previously said police beat confessions out of some of them.