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17.08.2016 Volleyball

Finland charges six Cuban volleyball players with rape

17.08.2016 LISTEN
By GNA

Stockholm, Aug.16, (GNA/dpa) - Six members of Cuba's men's volleyball team were Tuesday charged with aggravated rape in connection with a visit to Finland last month, a Finnish prosecutor said.

The six, aged 19 to 27, denied the charges, District Prosecutor Leena Koivuniemi told dpa.

She declined to say what sort of evidence she would rely on in the pending court case at the Pirkanmaa District Court in Tampere, citing that details in the case were sealed.

If convicted, the men risk up to two years in prison, the prosecutor said.

The July 5 remand custody hearing was held behind closed doors.

After that hearing, police told reporters that a woman had lodged a complaint and that the alleged incident took place at a hotel in Tampere, north of the capital Helsinki.

The Cuban team were taking part in an international tournament as part of preparations for the Rio Games.

At the Olympic tournament, Cuba substituted the six players who remained in Finnish custody. Cuba's men lost all five matches in the group stage.

GNA

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