A 19-year-old British woman has been found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, by Israeli youths.
She had been arrested after withdrawing an allegation that she was attacked by 12 young Israelis in a hotel in July.
The woman had said Cypriot police made her falsely confess to lying about the incident – but the police denied this.
She was found guilty on a charge of causing public mischief, at a court in Paralimni.
The judge at the Famagusta District Court adjourned sentencing until 7 January. She could face up to a year in jail, but her lawyers have asked for a suspended sentence.
Prosecutors said she willingly wrote and signed a statement retracting her claims 10 days after making the initial allegations.
The woman told the court this happened under duress with the threat of arrest and that she had been denied access to a lawyer.
Twelve Israelis were arrested in connection with the allegations but were later released and returned home.
The Briton spent more than a month in prison before she was granted bail at the end of August, but had not been allowed to leave the island.
The trial began at the start of October – with the verdict delayed until now.
BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly said the woman’s family spent Christmas with her on the Mediterranean island.
He said that lawyers representing the woman had indicated they were willing to challenge the verdict as far as the European Court of Human Rights.
BBC
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