Ex-priest faces extradition over abuse charge

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- An Indonesian court ruled Thursday that a former Roman Catholic priest could be extradited to Australia, where authorities accuse him of sexual offenses against young boys dating back to 1979.

Charles Barnett, 64, was taken into police custody at his Jakarta home in February following a request from the Australian government, according to prosecution papers filed at the South Jakarta District Court.

Judge Syafrullah Suma ruled that the extradition arrest was legal and Barnett could be sent back to Australia. It was not immediately clear when he would be returned or whether his lawyers would appeal the verdict.

Barnett is accused of abusing six boys between 1979 and 1994, the papers show. For some of those years, he was a Roman Catholic priest, according to the papers.

Last week, Barnett appealed to the judge to allow him to live in Indonesia for "humanitarian reasons." He said he "sincerely regretted the hurt" he had caused to his victims and their families and he had already "begged for their forgiveness."

Barnett was teaching English in Indonesia, the court papers show.

He had not been accused of any offenses in Indonesia. E-mail to a friend

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