Raped on the Cagliari-Palermo ferry, seafarer reported for sexual assault
But the story of the alleged victim does not convince the investigators in many respects
The seafarer of the Grimaldi ship Europa Palace accused of molesting a 30-year-old passenger from Catania was charged with sexual assault.
It was the young woman who told the employees of the ship's reception on Sunday morning at five o'clock to tell the alleged violence - which would have occurred during the Cagliari-Palermo journey.
The story does not convince the investigators, who have so far not found evidence of the alleged victim's testimony. Visited by hospital doctors, the woman shows no signs of violence. Furthermore, there are no traces of calls to friends or ex-boyfriends on her phone, while the woman reported that she called her ex immediately after the violence.
The police are investigating the matter, coordinated by the Palermo prosecutor's office. The investigations also revealed that the thirty-year-old was under the influence of drugs.
It all started yesterday morning at dawn: at 5 the woman left her cabin and went to reception to report what had happened. When the ship arrived in port, the woman was immediately heard by the police, who gave a summary sketch of the alleged perpetrator of the harassment, which later turned into sexual violence in a second version of the events provided by the alleged victim herself.
The seafarer, identified and heard by the agents, admitted to having entered the cabin but only to deliver towels.
The ship, which remained stationary for the whole day, left for Cagliari at 5.00 pm. The trip was scheduled for 9.00 am.
The investigations continue to try to reconstruct what happened on the ferry.
(Unioneonline/L)
