Police in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, today said all 12 men arrested over the ‘attack’ have now been released and the 19-year-old woman will appear in court tomorrow. The released group were pictured celebrating as they were seen for the first time with family and friends today.
Cops in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, said the 19-year-old woman will appear in court tomorrow, as the released men were seen joyfully hugging friends and family today.
The seven men still held have been released after five were freed on Thursday, when no DNA evidence linked them to the alleged attack.
The British teen had claimed she was assaulted in a hotel room in the resort, with the 12 men denying it.
Speaking to The Sun a cop in Nicosia confirmed that the 19-year-old would remain in custody until she appeared in court in Paralimi tomorrow.
He said: “She changed her testimony on Sunday morning. We were all surprised
“At between 9 and 9.30am on Monday she will appear before the court which will rule in punishment. That may mean imprisonment, a fine or both.”
Yaniv Habari, a lawyer for some of the now-freed men, said: “The woman has changed her story. Those in custody will be released and allowed to leave.”
He added the accuser “regretted what she said and now she’s being interrogated, and most likely she will be referred to court tomorrow”.
Their lawyers had told the Jerusalem Post: “The police hit us, they broke our noses, and the girl is lying.
“Help us, get us out of here, you’ll see we’re right and that we’re innocent.”
The last seven of the dozen suspects arrested over an alleged rape were released July 28. Five of the teens had been released earlier
Two weeks ago , a dozen Israeli youths, some as young as 15, were arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of raping the 19-year-old British tourist in the resort town of Ayia Napa,.
The woman filed a police report at a local police station saying she had been gang-raped by the Israeli teens the night before, the Times of Israel reported.
The woman had told cops she agreed to have sex with one of the 12 but was held down and raped, with a medical exam showing scratches and bruises.
Interviewed by police, three of the alleged suspects, , ranging in age from 15 to 18, admitted to having sex with the girl, but they insisted the sex was “consensual”.
Israeli education minister Rafael Peretz, speaking to reporters outside a cabinet meeting on Sunday, said of the Cyprus case: “We need to check the details. We are certainly in favour of the children of Israel having the highest moral standard.”
Twelve Israeli teen male tourists were arrested on July 17 in Cyprus on suspicion of raping a British tourist in a hotel in the southeastern resort town of Ayia Napa
A dozen Israeli men were arrested after a British tourist 19, claimed the men ranging in age, 15 to 18, gang raped her in Ayia Napa, Cyprus on July 17
The other nine suspects claimed to have had nothing to do with the incident, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The 12 boys were all remanded while the alleged victim underwent further medical tests.
State broadcaster RIK reported that the alleged rape took place in the same hotel where the woman and the 12 suspects were staying separately.
The suspects said the British woman struck up a friendship with two members of the group, with one of the two helping the other with the English-to-Hebrew translation.
Other Israeli tourists told Channel 12 that a large group of British guests began attacking Israelis who they thought were close to the woman’s room once news of the alleged rape spread in the hotel, according to the outlet.
A dozen Israeli men were arrested after a British tourist 19, claimed the men ranging in age, 15 to 18, gang raped her in Ayia Napa, Cyprus on July 17
The “rape never took place,” a police source said of the accusations made by a 19-year-old British girl. All 12 Israeli youth arrested after the accusations have been released
“Rape never took place,” a police source said of the accusations made by a 19-year-old British girl on July 17.
The teen had claimed she was gang-raped at her hotel in the popular Ayia Napa resort, leading to the high-profile arrests of 12 Israeli teens as young as 15.
But she soon “changed her version” of what happened, according to lawyer Yaniv Habari, who represents one of those arrested.
The British accuser was arrested Sunday and is expected in court Monday, police spokesman Christos Andreou told AFP.
“She is facing charges of giving a false statement over an imaginary offence,” police said.
Five of those initially arrested had been released last Thursday, but seven had remained in custody until the sudden about-turn in the investigation.
None had ever been charged.
“All seven Israelis have been released,” police spokesman Andreou confirmed Sunday.
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