Police officers have arrested three men suspected of raping a woman on the way back to Olhão after a night out in Faro.
The events occurred on the night of 9 October, after which the woman went to the police. This, "immediately triggered an investigation that resulted in the identification and detention of three foreign men."
According to the Police report, "the victim, a 28-year-old woman, was approached in the city of Olhão by three foreign men who said they were a friend of a person in the victim's family and persuaded her to accompany them to nightclubs in Faro ".
"After a fun night out and on returning to Olhão the suspects, taking advantage of the victim who they had help get drunk, forced her to have sex," states the Judicial Police.
The investigation, supervised by the Olhão Public Prosecutor's Office, collected of evidence of the crime and identified the alleged perpetrators, who were arrested on October 16th.
The suspects, aged between 20 and 30-years-old, have been in court and have to report to the Police station once every two weeks, must have no contact with the victim, must not leave their home or work parish, are prohibited from acquiring arms and any other objects that can be used in the commission of crimes, handing over any such weapons within 10 days and having their passports held.
The region was shocked this week at the news that a Tiago Curado de Sousa, convicted of assaulting a 24-year-old British hitchhiker, escaped jail despite being convicted of her anal and vaginal rape.
The 33-year-old mechanic picked up the British woman, who was trying to get home after attending a music festival, on the road between Aljezur and Lagos in April 2017, later pulling over in a quiet area and raping her.
Curado de Sousa's victim, who is now receiving counselling, gave evidence by video link at the one day trial in early October. Sentencing took place at a separate court session this week.
The Court in Lagos thought it entirely reasonable to hand him a four-and-a-half year suspended sentence, on the proviso he pays her €2,000.
The British woman's lawyer, Miguel Teixeira, said afterwards that he would need to speak to his client before deciding whether to appeal.
He added: "There was a full confession so a sentence of this kind was to be expected.
"She is receiving psychological support in England. She has been left very traumatised by what happened.
"It was her first trip to Portgual. She came here with a group of friends for a concert and was on her way back to Faro Airport to catch a flight home when it happened. Basically she was on holiday."
Comments on social media are, understandably, forthright.
The British woman has decided to pass on the €2,000 compensation to the Portuguese Association for Victim Support.
Convicted rapist, Tiago Curado de Sousa
