Yahoo News Lawyer for British woman accused of making up claim of gang rape in Cyprus quits over 'disagreement'
The lawyer representing a British woman accused of making a false allegation of gang rape in Cyprus has reportedly withdrawn from the case following a ‘serious disgreement’ with his client.
The 19-year-old woman is facing a charge of public nuisance after allegedly falsely accusing a group of 12 Israelis of rape at a hotel in the resort of Ayia Napa.
As her lawyer quit, citing a ‘disagreement’, it also appeared that the woman’s family have set up a Go Fund Me page to raise £15,000 for legal fees for her case.
According to the page, they claim the teen gave a statement under duress, leading to the collapse of the initial investigation.
The Israelis were detained following the woman’s allegation but later released and have since returned to Israel.
She is now being held in custody and following the resignation of lawyer Andreas Pittadjis the case has been adjourned to later this month to allow the woman time to find a new lawyer.
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The girl’s family, who have reportedly enlisted the help of Justice Abroad, have claimed she gave her statement under duress.
A GoFundMe page set up on Thursday says: “In the early hours of Sunday the 28th of July 2019, following a week of traumatic events, our daughter was arrested for allegedly making a false allegation of rape in Cyprus and is currently being detained in prison awaiting trial.
“We maintain that the statement was given under duress and in breach of her rights, resulting in the collapse of the initial investigation and charges of public mischief being made against her.
“She is alone in a prison abroad after an awful series of events, we just want to bring her home.”
The page said Justice Abroad has been providing assistance in the UK and is bringing together an expert legal team from the UK and Cyprus to challenge the alleged breaches of her rights.
It said the crowdfund is being administered by a UK lawyer John Hobbs in order to protect the woman’s anonymity.
On Friday £65 had been donated to the fund.
