INTERNATIONAL: An Indonesian court on Tuesday ,February 15, has sentenced an Islamic school teacher to life in prison for raping 13 students in a case that has spotlighted the need to protect children from sexual violence in the country's religious boarding schools.

Judge Yohannes Purnomo Suryo Adi has said that teacher Herry Wirawan had sexually groomed the 13 girls, who were between 12 and 16 years old, and impregnated eight of his victims, some of whom suffered injuries from the rapes. Herry's lawyer has said he had until next Tuesday,February 22, to appeal the verdict.

A 42-year-old housewife, Dedeh Marlina, living near the school where Herry taught, has said she was relieved the perpetrator had been stopped but that the damage had been done.

"Most of them come from remote parts ... unfortunately they are now carrying the burden of what happened," she sadly said.