FIVE men yesterday denied raping a British woman in Cyprus — as it emerged more suspects were being sought.
Israelis aged 20 and 19 were held in custody until the investigation into Sunday’s alleged assault was completed.
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They claim it was consensual in Ayia-Napa, a party destination.
A source close to the case said: “Police believe there were a lot more than five present. The search is on as part of a wider probe which makes this case even more serious and disturbing.”
They appeared before the district court in Famagusta, and were then taken to prison.
These arrests come four years after the notorious Cypriot case where a British tourist girl spent five months behind bars for fabricating claims she had been gang raped.
After completing her A-levels, an 18-year old girl from Derbyshire flew to Ayia Napa in Cyprus for the summer.
She claimed to have had an affair with a 21 year-old Israeli and went up to his room. However, his friends forced themselves in and raped the woman.
Twelve Israelis arrested after the alleged victim reported assault. All of them claimed that the sexual act was consented to.
After a few shocks, the victim of this alleged crime was charged with public mischief, and jailed for 5 weeks in an infested cockroach prison.
After six months of her ordeal, she finally got to go home after a judge handed down a sentence with remission for four months in January 2020.