Skip to main content

4 Indonesians in rape case retract confessions

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Four janitors charged with raping a kindergartner at a prestigious international school in Indonesia have retracted their confessions, saying they were tortured by police during questioning.

They made the retractions at a hearing Wednesday, the second day of a closed-door trial of five janitors at the Jakarta International School. The school is facing a storm of controversy following allegations of additional abuse.

Six custodians — five men and a woman — were arrested in April. However, one man committed suicide by drinking bathroom cleanser while in police custody. Their trials began Tuesday at the South Jakarta District Court with the first male defendant.

They could face up to 15 years in jail if found guilty of raping the 6-year-old boy, whose parents are seeking $125 million in compensation from the school.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Emergency guide: What you should do to prepare for emergencies

WASHINGTON — Do you know what you'd do if an emergency hits? What if you're at work, your spouse is stuck in traffic and your children are in school? There's no way to plan for every emergency, but you can make sure you're prepared for different scenarios, including making a plan for your family and building a kit of emergency supplies.
Read Next Story