A rally is taking place on Wednesday at City Hall in support of a former Calgary teacher who was convicted in a controversial sexual assault case in Indonesia.
Neil Bantleman and a teaching assistant were convicted of child sexual assault and assault in the spring.
They were accused of abusing three boys at the Jakarta International School, but the case was widely criticized by legal authorities as well as the U.S. and British Consulates.
45-year-old Bantleman received a ten year prison sentence but his lawyers have filed an appeal.
Former colleagues and friends gathered at City Hall in Calgary at about 5:00 p.m. to show their support and many say he was railroaded.
Nan McKellar is a friend and former colleague of Bantleman's from Webber Academy and she says the goal of the rally is to bring attention to his situation.
"This event is to get Neil Bantleman's case out into the public eye more. We've had very introspective vigils up until now but we decided this time to go public and really talk to Calgarians and Canadians about the injustice that's been happening to Neil," said McKellar. "All of us say it is an honour and a privilege to work for Neil to get his freedom."
Brett Wilson, a Calgary philanthropist is also expected to address the crowd.
Last month, Bantleman's 82-year-old mother wrote to the Prime Minister's office asking for help for her son.
Foreign affairs says it is monitoring the case.
