Tourist who said she was attacked is detained on suspicion of filing false complaint; ‘rape never took place,’ police source says
By TOI STAFF
Israeli suspects cover their faces with their shirts as they arrive at the Famagusta courthouse in Paralamni, Cyprus, July 26, 2019 (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Seven Israelis held in Cyprus on suspicion of gang raping a teenage British tourist in Cyprus earlier this month were released from custody Sunday, as police turned their attention to their accuser.
“All seven Israelis have been released, since 10 a.m.,” police spokesman Christos Andreou told AFP. “The young woman will be taken to court tomorrow morning (Monday).”
Earlier, a police source said the British teenager had been arrested. “She is facing charges of giving a false statement over an imaginary offense,” the police source told AFP. “Rape never took place,” one police source told Reuters.
Cypriot media said that she is suspected of filing a false complaint against the Israelis because they filmed her during the sex acts without having received her consent to do so.
“As I claimed throughout, there was no rape in Cyprus,” said Nir Yaslovitzh, an attorney for some of the suspects. “The youths who went on a vacation that became a nightmare will return to their homes today. All of them will return home to their families. Cypriot police carried out a professional and thorough investigation.”
Yaniv Havari, another Israeli attorney who represents a number of the suspects, told the Kan public broadcaster that his clients were able to provide convincing evidence that they did not commit the crime.
“She lied, she said 12 of them raped, that is what she claimed,” Havari said. “For nearly two weeks that is what she has claimed and after all 12 of the detainees gave their version, it seems her version doesn’t stand up.”
The dramatic development came after last week five of the Israeli suspects in the case were released and returned to Israel, though Cypriot police seemed poised at the time to file rape charges against at least three of those still being held.
In addition to those three detained suspects, whose DNA had been found at the scene, police believe three individuals currently not under arrest may have been involved in the alleged brutal sex crime — with analysis of DNA collected from the alleged victim’s body showing three unrecognized samples.
Twelve Israelis in all were arrested in the resort town of Ayia Napa last week on suspicion that they took part in the alleged gang rape. Some have reportedly admitted to having consensual sex with the woman, while others were thought to have possibly been present in the room at the time.
The British woman filed a police complaint a week and a half ago against the Israelis, ranging in age from 15 to 18, who were staying at the Pambos Napa Rocks Hotel on the island nation’s southeastern coast.
The woman told the police two of the suspects held her down by the arms as she cried to be let go. She said that their friends then raped her, taking turns, and that several beat her.
Cypriot police found five used condoms and 13 condom wrappers in the room where the alleged rape occurred, reports said.
AFP contributed to this report.
@ Laura: Obviously, Laura. It doesn’t really matter. I am glad that the boys have all turned out to be innocent and have been cleared. I’m glad also that the Cypriot police conducted a fair and honest investigation.
Women are more respected in Jewish culture than in most cultures. Rape is a rare crime among us, Thank God.
@ Yoel Ben-Avraham: I agree 100% Yoel
@ Yoel Ben-Avraham:
She quite obviously is a slut or a whore.
@ Adam Dalgliesh:
>>the bottom line is that the Israeli boys committed no crime
It does not make their behaviour any less disgusting.
Areally weird case. This woman has now admitted that the sex was consensual. Still, it is difficult to believe that any woman would agree to have intercourse with anywhere from three to twelve men at the same time. Very likely, she is a prostitute. But eve prostitutes are not usually willing to have sex with many men in succession at the same time–in other words, a “gang bang.” Maybe she specializes in this kind of “work,” having discovered that there is a “market” for it on the part of sexually inexperienced, insecure teenagers who are shy and insecure, and and thus prefer to have their buddies around when they are “doing it” for the first time.
Voluntary gang-banging with several men and one woman is a tradition among some Amazonian tribes, according to an anthropology program I once watched.
The famous or infamous sex researcher Kinsey persuaded a few momen to have group sex with a large group of men in order, supposedly , to test a woman’s capacity for numerous orgasms in quick succession. Why that guy was so respectable is beyond me.
But the bottom line is that the Israeli boys committed no crime. For this woman to falselyaccuse them not only brought disgrace and shame on these young men, but on Israel as a nation. Even “respectable” prostitutes respect the privacy of their clients and do nothing to harm or humiliate them. This woman seems to be of bad character even in comparison with most other prostitutes.