ORHAN KIBAR'S HORRIFIC RAPE SPREE IN BELFAST FLAT LEADS TO 13-YEAR SENTENCE
In September 2019, a man named Orhan Kibar was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 13 years after being convicted of committing two brutal rapes within his flat located in Belfast.The incident took place in the early hours of November 24, 2017, in Kibar's residence on Claremont Street, specifically in his apartment on Russell Court.
The case drew significant attention due to the severity of the crimes and the manner in which they were carried out.
Kibar, a 43-year-old man originally from Turkey, had been residing in Northern Ireland since 2005.
His conviction followed a rigorous two-week trial held earlier that year, during which the jury found him guilty of multiple charges.
The court heard how Kibar had lured two young women, both of whom were teenagers at the time—one aged 18 and the other 19—into his flat with the apparent intention of sexually assaulting them, regardless of their willingness to consent.
The judge overseeing the case described Kibar’s actions as “shocking and alarming,” emphasizing the gravity of his misconduct.
He stated, “You persuaded two vulnerable, young women to come to your flat with the clear intention of having intercourse with them regardless of whether they wished to consent or not.
You did not hesitate to use violence to get your way.” The judge further detailed how Kibar had initially raped and falsely imprisoned the first woman, and almost immediately after, he engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with the second woman.
Throughout the proceedings, the court acknowledged the bravery and resourcefulness of the victims, who managed to escape and report the crimes despite their trauma.
The judge expressed no hesitation in imposing the 13-year sentence, citing concerns over Kibar’s potential for re-offending.
Kibar, dressed in a grey tracksuit, stood silently in the dock with his hands clasped, flanked by two prison guards, showing no visible emotion as the sentence was announced.
Outside the courtroom, Detective Sergeant Graeme McArthur praised the courage of the victims and welcomed the sentencing.
He expressed hope that the case would encourage other victims to come forward and report similar offences, assuring them of the police’s professionalism and sensitivity in handling such cases.
McArthur highlighted that during the trial, CCTV footage was presented, showing Kibar meeting the two women outside the Queen’s University students’ union and later entering his flat with them.
The footage depicted the women, who were 18 and 19 at the time, engaging with Kibar before he led them into his residence.
Inside the flat, the 19-year-old woman fell asleep, while the younger woman was offered a cigarette.
When the 18-year-old went to the bathroom, Kibar followed her and committed the first rape.
The woman managed to bite him and escape from the bathroom, fleeing the flat in a distressed state without her phone or coat.
She encountered someone she knew on the street and immediately reported the incident to the police.
Meanwhile, the second woman was awakened by Kibar, who then assaulted her.
She told him she needed to use the toilet, and after a brief period, he allowed her to go.
However, as she exited, Kibar pushed her back into the bathroom, and during a struggle, he broke one of her fingers.
He then restrained her and raped her a second time.
Despite her efforts to escape, she was eventually able to flee the apartment and was intercepted by police officers who had been alerted by her friend.
She directed the officers to Kibar’s flat, leading to his immediate arrest.
During his trial, Kibar claimed that the sexual encounters were consensual, but his account was rejected by the jury.
The five men and seven women on the jury unanimously found him guilty of three counts of rape and one count of false imprisonment, confirming the severity of his crimes and the breach of trust involved in the case.
