Gina-Lisa Lohfink Convicted of Making False Rape Allegations

Model Gina-Lisa Lohfink has been convicted of making false rape allegations against two men in a case that has sparked debate across Germany.

Gina-Lisa Lohfink was fined €20,000 ($22,600) by a court in Berlin.

The two men were cleared of rape and Gina-Lisa Lohfink was accused of making false testimony.

Gina-Lisa Lohfink is a former competitor on reality TV show Germany’s Next Top Model, and the high-profile case partly informed a recent change to Germany’s rape laws.

A new law was passed in July clarifying that “no means no” even if the victim did not fight back.

After the verdict was read out, Gina-Lisa Lohfink cried: “I don’t need to put myself through this” before storming out of the courtroom.

He defense lawyer described the verdict as “a scandal”.

Burkhard Benecken said he would discuss with her whether she had the strength for an appeal.

She was now concerned for all women who wanted to report a rape, he said.

The case has been extensively covered throughout the German media.

Bild reported the verdict as “a bitter setback” for Gina-Lisa Lohfink, and said the verdict was greeted with boos from the public gallery.

Die Zeit said that the trial showed “how disrespectfully we treat people, when it comes to the accusation of rape”. The case will stigmatize all parties in the long run, the newspaper said.