Brit who reported rape in Hong Kong faces jail

"The case against her centred on allegations that Rose demanded money from the man - a British national - after accusing him of rape. The prosecution claimed Rose asked the man for 5,000 shortly after the alleged assault and later demanded 100,000 while threatening to go to the police to report a crime. They argued the payments amounted to blackmail and that her report of rape to the police was false."

"I reported it to the police within 72 hours, and very quickly after the allegation was dropped completely and I was the one left facing charges of blackmail. It takes a lot to have to go through that story over and over again...I feel like I am a victim."

"After a trial, the judge said that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Rose was guilty of both charges. Rose, who has been effectively trapped in Hong Kong while on bail for the last two years has been remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on 27 July."

Isabel Rose, 25, from London, traveled to Hong Kong in early 2024 to visit a man she had met while traveling. She reported being sexually assaulted to police, leading to his arrest, though he was later released without charge. Rose was subsequently convicted of blackmail and perverting the course of public justice after the prosecution alleged she demanded money from the man following the alleged assault, initially requesting 5,000 and later demanding 100,000 while threatening police involvement. Rose maintained she was raped and that the man had offered compensation. She has been remanded in custody pending sentencing on 27 July and has spent thousands on legal costs while effectively trapped in Hong Kong for two years.

Read at www.bbc.com