Ayia Napa 'rape lie' case: Parents of British woman accused of making up gang rape launch crowdfunder for £15,000 legal fees

The British teenager faces jail time of up to a year for falsely accusing 12 men of rape
AFP/Getty Images

The parents of a 19-year-old British woman who is charged with making a false gang-rape claim in Cyprus have launched a crowdfunding bid to pay her £15,000 legal fees.

Her family set up the Gofundme page on Wednesday to raise money for her legal team to fight the public nuisance charge which could see her jailed for a year.

The 19-year-old had alleged she was raped at a hotel in the popular resort town of Ayia Napa, where she and a group of Israelis, aged between 15 and 18, were staying.

She will remain in police custody at a detention centre in Nicosia until her next court appearance on August 19.

Police officers escort the 19-year-old from the Famagusta court in town of Paralimni
AP

In an emotional plea on their fundraising page, her parents wrote: “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.”

They go on to explain that they are “seeking funds to pay for the required legal representation in Cyprus” with the help of an organisation called Justice Abroad.

“They are bringing together an expert legal team, from both the UK and Cyprus, to challenge the many breaches of her rights and require funds to do so,” the statement reads.

A British lawyer will be tasked with allocating the funds raised to “appropriate costs” in the 19-year-old’s defence.

“The crowdfund is being carried out in this way to protect the anonymity of our daughter who we believe to be the victim in this case,” the Gofundme page states.

“Any assistance possible to achieve justice would be gratefully received and any excess funds will be allocated to related women’s rights and legal charities at the end of the case.”

Andreas Pittadjis, the Cypriot lawyer for a British teenager, talks on the press
AFP/Getty Images

The parents’ plea comes as their daughter seeks a new lawyer, after her previous one dramatically quit on Wednesday.

Andreas Pittadjis withdrew from the case citing a “serious disagreement” with his client.

"There is a serious disagreement with the defendant on how to handle the case, so I ask for the court's permission to withdraw," he told a court in court in Paralimni.

Mr Pittadjis later told reporters his resignation should not be connected to how the woman would plead.

It came after Justice Abroad claimed detectives had pressured her into retracting her rape allegations.

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