Indians stand trial on rape charges in Australia

Sydney, Jan 24: Two Indian men, accused of abducting and raping a woman in Australia, will stand trial at a Canberra court, a media report said on Friday.

Ajitpal Singh, 31, and Randhir Singh, 20, who maintained pleas of not guilty at a magistrate court Thursday, were remanded in custody and ordered to stand trial in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court on charges of rape, abduction, unlawful confinement and committing crimes of indecency, the Canberra Times reported.

The two men allegedly began interacting with the woman on a social media application and arranged to meet at a city shopping centre Sep 26.

Upon arriving at the rendezvous, the woman realised there was another man present and tried to leave.

The men then allegedly threatened her child and said they would show her husband the messages if she did not come with them. She was then allegedly sexually assaulted in a car by the three men.

The assault was photographed and the pictures used to coerce the woman to perform further sexual acts, the report said.

A third man alleged to be involved has since fled the country, it added.