Three British Men Face Charges for Alleged Gang Rape in Croatian Hotel
Three British men have been formally charged with the gang rape of a woman at their hotel in Split, Croatia. The defendants, identified as Ami Arifi, aged 30, Gezhim Xhafa, aged 29, and Sohqib Shakibi, aged 25, are accused of sexually assaulting a 28-year-old local woman over a prolonged two-hour period in their hotel room on the morning of July 22 last year.
Details of the Alleged Assault
According to prosecutors from the Split County State Attorney's Office, the trio initially met the victim in Matejuska, a popular waterfront area in the city. They then took her to a well-known hotel at approximately 5:30 am. During the incident, Arifi is alleged to have insulted and belittled the woman, bit her lips, and touched her intimate body parts without consent.
He is also accused of intermittently taking her mobile phone and coercing her into sexual intercourse with the second defendant. The victim reportedly informed police that she felt unable to refuse due to fears that her attackers would become even more violent if she resisted.
Legal Proceedings and Bail Conditions
Xhafa and Shakibi are alleged to have engaged in sexual acts under the mistaken belief that the woman's lack of physical resistance implied consent. The assault continued for around two hours before the woman managed to contact her former partner, who promptly alerted the authorities.
Police officers arrested one suspect directly at the hotel scene and tracked down the other two at a separate location shortly afterwards. All three men were initially held at Bilice prison before being released after each posted bail of £26,000 and promised to respond to court summonses.
Injuries and Background of the Defendants
During their time in custody, one of the defendants suffered serious facial injuries, including a broken jaw, following an altercation with another inmate. He was transferred to a hospital in Split for surgical treatment before being returned to the prison. Reports indicate that two of the defendants are of Kosovo origin.
If convicted under Croatian law, the men face prison sentences ranging from six months to a maximum of 10 years. Court proceedings are currently ongoing as the legal system processes the charges.
