Pacific

Australian gets 15 years prison for abusing girls in Bali

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Australian Robert Andrew Fiddes Ellis, center, walks into a courtroom for his verdict trial in Bali, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. An Indonesian court has sentenced the Australian retiree to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing 11 girls on the tourist island of Bali in 2014 and 2015. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (The Associated Press)

Australian retiree Robert Andrew Fiddes Ellis sits in a courtroom during his verdict trial at Denpasar District Court in Bali, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. The court on Tuesday sentenced Ellis to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing 11 girls on the tourist island of Bali. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (The Associated Press)

Australian Robert Andrew Fiddes Ellis is taken to a courtroom before his verdict trial in Bali, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. An Indonesian court has sentenced the Australian retiree to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing 11 girls on the tourist island of Bali in 2014 and 2015. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (The Associated Press)

An Indonesian court has sentenced an Australian retiree to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing 11 girls on the tourist island of Bali.

Robert Andrew Fiddes Ellis was found guilty Tuesday by the Denpasar District Court of violating Indonesia's Child Protection Law.

Ellis, who was arrested in January, was accused of abusing 11 girls aged 8 to 17 in 2014 and 2015.

Some of the victims said Ellis gave them small amounts of money in exchange for letting him bathe them.

The 70-year-old Ellis has denied doing anything wrong.

The panel of judges, led by Wayan Sukanila, also fined Ellis 2 billion rupiah ($153,000) or a further six months in prison.