Three British tourists have been brought before a Croatian court accused of gang raping a 28-year-old local woman in a hotel room at a popular seaside resort.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock (12256451a)
People spend time at a beach on a warm and sunny day in Vodice, Croatia, on Aug. 10, 2021.
Croatia Vodice Beach – 10 Aug 2021(Image: Photo by Xinhua/REX/Shutterstoc)
Ami Arifi, 29, Gezhim Xhafa, 28, and Sohqib Shakibi, 24, appeared before an investigating judge in Split on Thursday and were remanded in custody while police continue to investigate the case.
The alleged incident took place early on Tuesday morning in the port city of Split. Police believe the woman was targeted in a planned attack.
All three men are from London and could face up to ten years in prison if convicted.
One of the suspects is understood to have offered €30,000 in bail, but the offer was refused by the court.
Local reports state the woman met the men on Matejuška, a well-known waterfront promenade popular with both locals and tourists.
She reportedly accepted a motorbike ride with one of the men before joining them in their four-star hotel room at around 5.30am.
The court heard that once inside the room, the first defendant began to insult her, bite her lips, and grope her. When she objected and said she was in pain, he allegedly continued.
He is also accused of taking the woman’s mobile phone and asking her to have sex with the second defendant.
The woman, fearing for her safety, allegedly agreed and went with him to another room.
It is further alleged that the first man then requested that she perform oral sex on the third defendant.
The woman told the court he bit her and touched her across her body.
She claimed she resisted throughout the assault but eventually managed to escape and call her ex-boyfriend, who then contacted police.
Officers quickly arrived at the hotel and arrested one of the suspects in the room. The remaining two were located and detained shortly afterwards.
The court heard the ordeal lasted for around two hours. All three men have denied the charges and maintain that all sexual activity was consensual.
Two of the men are originally from Kosovo, but all three hold British citizenship.