Husband Vicente, 63, and wife Fernando, 28, who have over 300,00 followers on Instagram, were documenting their motorcycle trip around the world when they were allegedly attacked in India
A popular Brazilian travel influencer who was motorcycling across the world with her husband was allegedly gang-raped by seven men during an overnight stay.
Three men have appeared in a court in India accused of raping Fernando, 28, and assaulting Vicente, 63 after the attackers used a helmet and a stone to beat him which left his “mouth destroyed.”
The couple, who have over 300,000 followers on Instagram, was documenting their journey around the world on a motorbike and were making their way to Nepal on India on separate motorcycles.
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However, they reportedly stopped for the night at Dumka district in India’s Jharkhand where they set up camp before being spotted by a group of men who sexually assaulted Fernando.
On Sunday, the three men accused were escorted into court with bags on their heads by police officers holding ropes around their waits. Four other men are wanted in connection, according to authorities.
During a video outside a hospital in India, the 63-year-old husband revealed the injuries they suffered and Fernanda is seen with visible bruises on her face. She claims they were also robbed but it was “their only intention was to rape her”.
The influencers posted a video explaining their horrific experience after they had camped for the night on their way to the border with Nepal.
“Something has happened to us that we would not wish on anyone, seven men have raped me, they have beaten us and robbed us, although not many things, because what they wanted was to rape me,” read the caption on one video, which showed Fernanda’s bruised face.
“My face looks like this, but it’s not what hurts me the most,” she said in one post, “Thank God we are alive.” “They beat us,” Vicente added. “They put a knife to my neck, and told me they were going to kill me. Fernanda was raped. Seven of them. Seven men.”
The suspects are thought to be between the ages of 20 and 30 years old and have been accused by authorities of having raped Fernanda in shifts.
“We have formed a team to hunt the remaining suspects,” said Pitamber Singh Kherwar, a senior local police officer. “We have to ensure strict punishment.”
The bloggers, who were in court on Monday and were given £9,500 as compensation by authorities in India, are in secure accommodation. “We have given him a compensation of one million rupees. We are conducting a thorough investigation and will try to ensure a speedy trial and conviction,” said Anjaneyulu Dodde, deputy commissioner of Dumku.
The couple plan to return to Spain before resuming their trip at a later date. “We will leave the bikes in Nepal. We want to rest and be with our family. Then, when Fernanda is fully recovered, we will continue our tour of Asia. We want to finish in New Zealand.”
