Nicosia: A British woman who was convicted because it misclained the rape of a gang in Cyprus has appealed to the Supreme Court on the island, trying to clean her name.
The woman received a four-month prison sentence suspended in January 2020 in a case that triggered fears from England and activists about their care by Cyprus authorities.
Lawyers for the defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and prosecutors present their arguments in front of the Supreme Court of Stools in the capital of Nicosia on Thursday.
The court is expected to issue a verdict within six months.
The woman, then 19 years old, filed a complaint in July 2019 that she had been raped by a group of Israeli youth at Ayia Napa’s vacation resort.
A few days later the complaint was withdrawn, leading to his arrest and subsequent confidence for public damage.
He argued that he attracted his complaint under coercion after hours of questioning the police and without lawyers attended.
“This case is a seminal tool for human rights protection in Cyprus, as well as those who report sexual violations,” said Michael Polack, director of the UK-based advocacy group-based advocacy group helped the local defense team.
Twelve Israeli young men were arrested because they were questioned but quickly released after the woman pulled her allegations.
They were not required to provide evidence of the female trial because the case focused on whether the woman misleads the authorities and gives the wrong statement, than the suspected rape itself.
The British government later said it had “many concerns” about the judicial process and female rights of a fair trial.
The woman was not present at the process of Thursday.