Man accused of raping ex-girlfriend asks court to order her prosecution

A Dutchman accused of the rape of his Maltese ex-girlfriend yesterday filed a court application requesting the court order the Police Commissioner to initiate proceedings against the woman for filing a false police report and lying under oath.

Johan Stellingwerf, 33, from Holland, is accused of raping the Maltese woman, who cannot be named by order of the court, and of defrauding her of approximately €25,000. The two had a four-month relationship.

The woman has four pending criminal complaints filed against her by Stellingwerf between November last year and August. Stellingwerf's lawyers are requesting the court order the police to take action against the woman on the basis these criminal complaints.

Police Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo told the court that when he was informed about the application, he reviewed the case and searched the woman's house. The police found underwear and other clothing belonging to Stellingwerf  in a black bag under the stairs. When asked about them, the woman told police that she had hung on to the items “because she had purchased them”.

Bartolo said the police have filed charges against the woman and a sitting has been fixed for January when she will be accused of exercising a pretended right. He said investigations on other criminal complaints were still under way .

The Stellingwerf rape case has taken several twists in the months since proceedings were instituted. The woman is claiming that the accused raped her on several occasions over a two-month period, while they were in a relationship, a claim disputed by the accused who says the encounters were consensual. During the compilation of evidence against Mr Stellingwerf, the court was told how in the woman reported that the rape occurred in April 2012. The complaint was later withdrawn only to be reinstated two days later.

The woman claims that the accused had raped her several times over a period of two months, when they were in a four-month relationship.
The accused, however is insisting that the activities between the two were consensual.

Lawyer Jason Grima represented Stellingwerf in the proceedings.
 

Matthew Agius