Indonesian Teacher Sentenced to Death for Raping 13 Students

On Monday, an Indonesian teacher had been sentenced to death for raping 13 students in an Islamic school.

Herry Wirawan, 36, had been sentenced to life in February, in a case that drew national attention to sexual abuse in religious schools in Indonesia; however, the prosecutors who had sought the death penalty filed an appeal.

"We accept the appeal of the prosecutors; we hereby punish the defendant to a death sentence," the High Court of Bandung said.

"Wirawan was not in court for the appeal, Wirawan's spokesperson told AFP.

During his previous trial, it was revealed that Wirawan had raped the female students over a period of 5 years. He also impregnated at least eight of them.

A relative of one of the victims told AFP that Monday's sentence brought justice to the victims.

The case drew national outrage and increased pressure on parliament to approve a long-delayed bill on the elimination of sexual violence that seeks to fight sex crimes and provide justice for victims, including in cases of marital rape.

Contributed by Israa Farhan