{"id":36584,"date":"2019-12-14T00:29:19","date_gmt":"2019-12-14T00:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=36584"},"modified":"2019-12-14T00:29:19","modified_gmt":"2019-12-14T00:29:19","slug":"alleged-rape-victim-forced-to-spend-christmas-in-cyprus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/alleged-rape-victim-forced-to-spend-christmas-in-cyprus\/","title":{"rendered":"Alleged Rape Victim Forced to Spend Christmas in Cyprus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pinterest;Cyprium News<\/p><\/div>\n

Authorities in Cyprus have detained British teenager who has been accused of lying about rape.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old has been on trial in Cyprus after being accused of lying about gang rape. Officials have told her that she must remain on island until after Christmas.<\/p>\n

The teenager has been charged with \u201cpublic mischief\u201d for allegedly false claiming she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in an Ayia Napa hotel on July 17.<\/p>\n

After her first statement to the police, she claims she was pressured by Cypriot police to make a retraction statement.<\/p>\n

The case was adjourned until December 30th<\/sup> after the judge heard closing arguments on Thursday.<\/p>\n

A lawyer from the Justice Abroad group, Michael Polak stated he was \u201cparticularly surprised\u201d at the length of time it will take the court to deliver its verdict.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis means that the teenager, who is not allowed to leave Cyprus, will miss Christmas with her friends and family in the United Kingdom.\u201d He adds.<\/p>\n

Mr Polak also stated that the teenager has spent over a month in prison as well as six months where she has been unable to leave the country as she has had to surrender her passport.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old British woman was a week into a working holiday in Cyprus before alleging she was attacked by the group of 12 Israeli men who were also on holidays.<\/p>\n

If found guilty, she could potentially face up to a year in prison and pay a \u00a31,500 fine. On the other hand, the group of men arrested over the case returned home after they were released.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the crowdfunding page set up by the teenager\u2019s family has raised almost \u00a350,000 for legal costs.<\/p>\n

By B Saphiel<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Authorities in Cyprus have detained British teenager who has been accused of lying about rape. The 19-year-old has been on trial in Cyprus after being accused of lying about gang rape. Officials have told her…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":476,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christmas","category-crime"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t