A Balinese Court recently sentenced 70-year-old Australian Robert Ellis to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing 11 girls in his home in Denpasar, Bali. (Antara Photo/Nyoman Budhiana)

Jakarta. Prosecutors have demanded a 16-year jail term for 70-year-old Australian national Robert Andrew Fiddes Ellis who is accused of sexually assaulting 11 underaged girls in Bali, a hearing at Denpasar District Court on Tuesday (13/09) revealed.

Ellis allegedly abused 11 girls in Bali between 2014 and 2015 while bathing them, Kompas.com reported. He was arrested by police at his rented home in Tabanan in January, following a tip-off from local residents.

Prosecutors, who charged Ellis under the Children Protection Law, also demanded the court order the defendant to pay Rp 2 billion ($151,000) in fines or serve an additional eight months jail term.

Ellis’ lawyer Yanuar Nahak said the prosecutor's demand was "too heavy" for his client.

“A 16 year-old demand for Ellis, it is strange. The prosecutors combined some articles in the law to charge my client, which violates criminal law principles. I was disappointed, really disappointed,” Yanuar said on Tuesday.

The next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20, where the defendant will enter a plea argument delivered in written documents.