Budapest policemen acquitted of rape charges

Plaintiff Zsanett (left) in 2007, and in court in 2008 sitting in front of three of the officers accused of raping her.

By: MTI
2010-03-09 09:48

A Budapest court on Monday acquitted five policemen accused of involvement in the rape of a young woman three years ago.

 

The ruling is non-binding and appealable at a higher court.

 

The national and Budapest police chiefs were fired and the justice minister resigned over irregularities among the ranks of the elite Police Security Service (Rebisz), including theft and bribes, topped by the rape allegation in May 2007.

 

Press reports at the time said that a 21-year-old woman, referred to only as Zsanett, claimed that she was stopped by policemen getting out of a patrol car while driving on Muzeum boulevard in central Budapest overnight on May 4 for failing to wear her seat belt. The five men in police uniform allegedly threatened Zsanett and asked for money before taking her to a quiet side-street where she was raped and forced to perform oral sex.

Inside Caboodle.hu

Your Caboodle! »

New membership services at Caboodle.hu include bookmarks, lists and marketplace sales.

Culture & Events »

Free English-language museum tours led daily in Budapest

Dining Out »

Browse, rate and comment on more than 900 restaurants in our Hungarian dining guide

Sightseeing »

A pared-down list of must-see sites in Budapest

Transport Guide »

Caboodle.hu's comprehensive guide to public transport in Budapest and Hungary

The latest feeds from other member sites of the All Hungary media network