A British teenager accused of falsely claiming she was gang-raped by 12 Israeli tourists told a court in Cyprus on Wednesday that her retraction of the claim was coerced by police.
During three hours of questioning and cross-examination in the stand, the 19-year-old said police were “hostile and negative” towards her, and after a torrent of questions asked her to sign a statement she had not seen.
She also claimed police did not allow her to go to the toilet on two occasions when requesting a bathroom break.
Her testimony was part of a “trial within a trial” to ascertain whether investigators exercised psychological pressure to extract a confession from the woman accused of falsely claiming she was gang raped.
The prosecution argued the Briton was made aware of her rights and that her statement had been voluntarily given without duress, she was also allowed to request breaks, water and food at any time.
The court will decide on Thursday whether the teenager’s psychologist in the UK can give evidence via teleconference before deciding on the next steps.
The 19-year-old, who last month pleaded not guilty to the charge of "public mischief," covered her face as she arrived at the Famagusta district court in Paralimni in the southeast of the island.
If convicted, she could face up to one year in prison and a fine of around 1,700 euros.
Defence lawyers argue she had acted under duress and her rape claim retraction was coerced.
Initially, the teenager had alleged that 12 Israelis raped her on July 17 at a hotel in the resort of Ayia Napa, a magnet for younger tourists attracted by its beaches and nightlife.
The Israelis aged 15 to 18 were later released without charge after the woman was arrested on suspicion of "making a false statement about an imaginary crime", according to Cypriot police.
The Israelis have denied any allegation of assault and have since returned home.
Nearly a dozen Cypriot organisations have called for the Cyprus attorney-general to suspend the woman’s prosecution in an open letter.
Rights groups argued the teenager has suffered humiliation – as well as being mistreated by both the police and the media.
They called for an investigation into the way police dealt with the case and also criticised the way rape cases and victims were handled in Cyprus.
