A list of Canadians who ran into trouble abroad in 2016
TORONTO — Every year a number of Canadians and permanent residents find themselves behind bars in foreign countries — 2016 was no exception. Some cases have been called unjust, others are in the process of being prosecuted and in a handful of cases, some detained Canadians were released and allowed to return home. Here are snapshots of some key cases that made headlines this year.
— Canadian citizens and permanent residents currently detained in cases their supporters have called unjust.
NEIL BANTLEMAN: The Canadian teacher convicted in Indonesia on child abuse charges marked the second anniversary of his detention in July 2016. Bantleman has maintained his innocence ever since he was accused of abusing three children at an international school in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. He was first convicted and handed a 10 year prison sentence in April 2015 and then freed in August 2015 after an appeal. In February this year, however, Indonesia’s Supreme Court overturned his acquittal and Bantleman was put back behind bars with an 11-year sentence. His lawyers are now preparing an application for a judicial review of the matter. A panel appointed by Indonesia’s Supreme Court will look at those arguments.
TAHMID HASIB KHAN: The University of Toronto student, who is a permanent resident of Canada, was detained in Bangladesh after a deadly July terror attack in the country. Khan was taken into custody after surviving a raid on an upscale restaurant in which 20 hostages were killed. In October, a judge cleared the 22-year-old of any involvement in the attack. While the development was a relief to his family, Khan still faces a charge of not co-operating with police. He was released on bail on that charge and remains in the country while his case works its way through the courts. If convicted on that count, he could face a month of jail time and a cash fine. Khan had arrived in Dhaka on July 1 to celebrate Eid with his family.