Alleged pedophile diplomat in court

Wahyu Bhoediwardana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A former Australian diplomat went on trial at the Amlampura District Court in Bali on Wednesday on charges of forcing two underage boys to perform sexual acts.

The trial comes amid recent reports that the island has become a safe haven for foreign pedophiles. Three Australian federal police officers have been posted to Bali to work with local officers to combat pedophilia.

Prosecutor Wayan Eka Miarta told the court that William Stuart Brown, 52, "lured, through the use of violence, trickery and a series of lies, two children (aged 16 and 14) to engage in, or allowed them to engage in, sexual acts".

Judge Nyoman Sutama said the crime was punishable by between three and 15 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 300 million (US$35,500).

In a secondary charge, which will be dropped if the main charge is proven, Miarta accused Brown of repeated sexual acts with minors. This carries a possible sentence of up to five years in prison.

Brown, who had been teaching English at a local high school and speaks Indonesian, said he was not guilty of any of the charges, AFP reported.

The judge earlier planned to apply Law No. 23/2003 on child protection, which allows for an open trial. But in order to protect the alleged victims the judge decided to hold a closed trial.

Made Sumiyati of non-governmental organization Trisnayadnya said the victims were suffering severe depression because they were being mocked by their friends at school.

One of the victim's aunts said her family was being terrorized by a man claiming to be the defendant's boyfriend.

Also, at least 30 people from the Karang Asem People Council attended the trial on Wednesday, calling for a fair trial untainted by bribery.