Iraqi refugee in Germany pleads guilty to raping two Chinese students

A 32-year-old Iraqi refugee has pleaded guilty to the rapes of two Chinese students near Germany's Ruhr-University in Bochum last year.

He could face jail sentences of up to fifteen years, reports Radio France International.

Screenshot of the report on Radio France International's Chinese website. [Screenshot: cn.rfi.fr]

The refugee, identified as Ziyad K, is accused of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old Chinese student in bushes near the Ruhr-University Bochum, on August 6, 2016; and another 27-year-old three months later, within 200 meters of the college dormitory where the victim lived, at around 16:45 p.m. on November 16, 2016.

The first victim flew back to Germany to testify in person for the trial against her alleged attacker.

The young woman said in court that she was on her way back from the supermarket when she was attacked from behind. 

In her testimony, she said her assailant put a noose around her neck, hit her back with a stick, dragged her into the woods and raped her. As he tightened the noose around her neck, she told the court that she "became dizzy, started to lose consciousness, and thought she was about to die far from home, at the age of 21."

The suspect was arrested by local police in Bochum last December, where he had been seeking asylum along with his wife and two children.

The court is expected to give its verdict next week.