Guatemalan Woman Retracts Rape Accusation Against Moroccan Men in Spain

The victim, who appeared on Tuesday before the investigating court in Malaga, withdrew her complaint after the court had released a few days earlier the two young men arrested as alleged perpetrators of this gang rape on the beach of La Malagueta, according to judicial sources cited by EFE.

Before their release, the court had confiscated the passports of the two accused and prohibited them from leaving Spanish territory. The judge made this release decision after being informed by the Family and Women Protection Unit (UFAM) of the existence of a witness, a friend of the victim, who was with her on the day of the alleged rape.

To read: Spanish Court Acquits Moroccan Man in Arranged Marriage Rape Case

The witness in question told the local police that he has several messages and audios from the victim in which she "admits not to have suffered a sexual assault and that the relationship was consensual". This friend of the victim later confirmed these statements before the investigating judge, stating that the Guatemalan filed this complaint in order "to obtain legal residence in Spain and economic assistance".

The two alleged perpetrators had been detained on May 10 and a third was released on bail. Aged 19, 30 and 31, they were arrested on the night of Sunday, May 8 for alleged sexual assault and robbery with violence and intimidation, the victim’s personal effects having been found on one of them during their arrest. According to the investigation, the woman was drunk.