Rhodes Court Moves to Acquit Man in Alleged Goat Abuse Case

Greek prosecutors have advised the Council of Minor Offences in Rhodes to drop charges against a local resident accused of sexually abusing a goat, stating that the evidence does not support the allegation. The accusation stemmed from a retired police officer who claimed to have witnessed the act in September 2022 on the island, but the investigation found no corroborating proof.

The case, which sparked widespread public reaction, was delayed for a year before being reported to authorities. After preliminary inquiries and a formal filing on 23 March 2026 to the appellate prosecutor, the file was returned on 15 May 2026 with the conclusion that there are no grounds for prosecution. The matter now awaits a decision by the Rhodes Council of Minor Offences.

The defendant has consistently denied the alleged conduct throughout the proceedings, and his legal counsel, Stélios Kiourtzis, has highlighted the lack of forensic or eyewitness evidence.