Two 19-year-olds who were accused of raping a British woman and recording the act on their mobile phones in a Greek hotel have been released from custody. However, they have been ordered to report to the embassy in London every month while the investigation remains ongoing.
The incident occurred last week in Rethymno, on the Greek island of Crete, where the 24-year-old British woman alleged that the two teenagers assaulted her while intoxicated in a hotel room. According to her statement, the pair filmed the sexual assault after meeting at a bar earlier that night.
The woman claimed that they consumed alcohol together and later went to the hotel where the two men were staying. She said she woke up the next morning naked and disoriented, unaware of her whereabouts.
Both men were arrested and appeared in court on Monday. They were released with certain conditions and fines. While the Greek police detained the two teenagers on suspicion of rape, the 24-year-old woman underwent medical examinations.
Although the two individuals are now free to return home, they must report to the Greek Embassy in London monthly due to their restrictive conditions.
This incident follows another recent case involving an Albanian man accused of raping a British tourist. In that case, the suspect was released from custody but was not allowed to leave Greece pending further investigation.
The 20-year-old British woman reported that the 23-year-old man raped her on June 3 after they went swimming at Glystra Beach on the east coast of Rhodes. She further stated that he attempted to rape her again in her hotel room in Kiotari.
The victim, who remains unidentified, informed the police that she had met the suspect two weeks prior and had exchanged messages on WhatsApp before meeting in person.
The Albanian national claimed that their sexual encounters were consensual and that they had also shared a meal before returning to her hotel room. The British tourist, however, stated that the suspect attacked her while they were in the sea and subsequently raped her.
After the assault, she requested to be taken back to her hotel room. Upon their arrival, the man followed her to her room, removed her clothes, and attempted to assault her again. Fortunately, she could fend him off and force him to leave the room. The victim immediately reported the rape and assault to the Rhodes police.
The Albanian man was apprehended a few hours later and taken into custody. He is facing charges of rape, which could result in a prison sentence of up to ten years. He has been released on the condition that he remains in the country while the investigation continues.
