'Fake Indian' kidnapper loses appeal over subjecting girlfriend naked ordeal

Melbourne, Dec 20(ANI): An Australian kidnapper who forced his girlfriend to wander naked for six days and fled the country after disguising himself as an Indian, has lost an appeal against his conviction.

Julian Matthias Buchwald was charged with kidnapping his girlfriend to force her into marrying and having sex with him in March 2008.

He, consequently, disguised himself as an Indian by darkening his hair and skin to appear Indian but was extradited home after being caught by Indian authorities of traveling on a fake passport.

He was sentenced to seven years and nine months' imprisonment and an additional six months for skipping bail.

Victorian Court of Appeal Judges Marcia Neave, Robert Redlich and Hartley Hansen refused Buchwald's appeal saying there was no miscarriage of justice.

"The applicant's behaviour in the bush regarding requests for sex and marriage vows was entirely consistent with the victim's evidence that he was pushing for marriage, and his confessions that he kidnapped the victim in order to spend more time with her,'' the Age quoted Justice Hansen, as saying.

"The applicant's account was so implausible having regard to the cogency of the circumstantial evidence that I am affirmatively satisfied of his guilt," he added.

Buchwald had lied to his girlfriend that he was abducted, after inviting her on a picnic at his parents' property where he blindfolded her and forced her to wander naked in a remote bushland for six hours. (ANI)

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