A 33-year-old Czech woman endured 48 hours of terror after being held captive and sexually assaulted by two of her fellow compatriots whom she had kindly taken into her Guardamar home. The victim was forced to make bank transfers while her captors withdrew cash and used her credit cards to make purchases, resulting in a loss of more than 24000 euro.
The ordeal began after the woman placed an advertisement to rent out a room in her partner’s home in Alicante. The suspects showed interest in the room, but the victim declined the rental as her partner did not want another couple living there. Out of pity for her fellow countrymen, she offered them temporary accommodation at her own home in Guardamar while they looked for alternative accommodation.
The arrangement initially went smoothly, and the couple even stayed at the property for ten days while the homeowner travelled back to the Czech Republic. However, upon her return, the couple revealed their true intentions. According to the account given to police officers from the Elda Police Station, the compatriots tied her hands and feet, sexually assaulted her, and forced her to transfer money from her bank account.
After being held captive in the house for two days, the victim was forced into the boot of her own car on 19th May to be transported to an unknown destination. Knowing that her car boot did not close properly, she waited for the right moment to escape. After a brief stop at a petrol station, the opportunity arose when the assailants stopped at a fast-food restaurant near a service station in Petrer.
The National Police 091 call centre received multiple reports from witnesses who saw a woman with her hands tied escape from the boot of a vehicle and seek refuge. Police units from the Elda-Petrer station arrived at the scene and found the terrified woman inside the service station toilets. Her hands were tied with rope and her mouth was gagged with a sock secured by tape.
Witnesses explained that the suspected kidnappers were ordering food at McDonald’s when they noticed the victim fleeing, prompting them to speed away from the scene. A search alert was immediately issued to all law enforcement agencies.
A Guardia Civil patrol from Cofrentes successfully located the vehicle in the Valencian town of Jalance. The officers stopped the car, found a 30-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman inside, and arrested them.
Officers from the Territorial Judicial Police Team of the Guardia Civil in Requena conducted a forensic examination of the vehicle. They seized a 33-centimetre kitchen knife, remnants of plastic-coated wire rope, and packing tape. They also confiscated 4286 euro in cash alongside several mobile phones, including two valued at 3057 euro that had been purchased on the day of the crime using the victim’s credit card.
A subsequent search of the victim’s home in Guardamar del Segura revealed numerous items used to restrain her. Financial investigations confirmed the detainees had made multiple cash withdrawals, bank transfers, and attempts to apply for loans, totalling a loss of over 24000 euro for the victim.
The two Czech citizens were charged with unlawful detention, sexual assault, assault, vehicle theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card. Following an appearance before a duty judge in Torrevieja, both were remanded in pretrial detention.
