Five young men from Brussels are on trial in Malta for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl from France as well as kidnapping, assaulting and robbing the girl’s 16-year-old male friend, reports the Maltese press.
On the night of the assault, the victim had gone out with a 16-year-old male friend to a nightclub in Zebbug and saw her 20-year-old Belgian ex-boyfriend at a club.
At the end of the night, her ex allegedly offered to accompany her as she was "visibly drunk," also forcing her male friend into the vehicle. During the taxi ride, the ex allegedly gave her a strong drink until she lost consciousness.
She was later raped by him at the suspect's flat while his friends filmed. His friends also allegedly forcibly took her friend to that flat, where they allegedly abused the teenager for hours and tried to use his smartphone to buy a €2,000 luxury handbag to send to his home address in Belgium for delivery.
It was not until around 13:00 on Sunday afternoon that the pair were allegedly released, after which they went to the police on Monday, who arrested the five suspects later that evening as they boarded the plane.
In court, the ex and three other suspects, aged 20, 18 and 17, pleaded not guilty. The fifth, 17-year-old suspect, reportedly a player from the Belgian under-18 football team, admitted grievously assaulting the 16-year-old boy and stealing his mobile phone. He was given a one-year prison sentence, which was suspended for two years, together with a three-year restraining order.
The trial for the other four suspects continues on Thursday.
