Consul defends community after gang-rape backlash

Consul defends community after gang-rape backlash

Andreea Ghisoi (pictured right) spoke out after reports of the men’s sentencing sparked outrage on social media, with questions asked about the Island’s immigration policy. Five men were jailed for ten years each by the Royal Court on Friday and Ms Ghisoi has said that their actions should not tarnish honest and hard-working Romanians who have made Jersey their home.

Florin Calin (20), Dorel Diaconu (23), Oprea Dobre (18), Alexandru Dobrin (18) and Marius Dobrin (24), all originally from Romania, each took turns raping a woman at Les Platons car park in December – filming parts of the ordeal on their mobile phones.

Romanian nationals came in for criticism online over the weekend following the sentencing, with some people questioning the Island’s immigration policy, stating Jersey was not safe anymore. Others have hit out at the sentences, claiming ten years is too lenient.

Ms Ghisoi said the actions of the five men did not represent the vast majority of Romanians, who came to work in Jersey because it was a largely safe island.

She said: ‘As the consul, I just can’t find the words to describe it.

‘This does not represent the 3,000 Romanians who are on the Island, and we are against their actions.

‘No one has any right at all to force someone into doing something they don’t want to do. Everybody knows that is common sense.

‘Many people come to this wonderful country and work really hard and they do not agree with this type of behaviour.’

The Royal Court heard how the victim thought she was going to be murdered by the five farm workers during the attack.

The number of Romanians coming to Jersey has gone up since 2014.

Back then just 780 were in the Island and that number has now risen to the 3,000 mark.

Ms Ghisoi said the large number of Romanian nationals worked in the catering and hospitality industry, but others came to work in finance and in health.

She added: ‘The reason people come here is because it is largely a safe place to live.

‘Some work in finance and other areas. A lot work in catering and hospitality.

‘For them it is a lovely island and a beautiful place to be.’

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