The Attorney General has filed an appeal against the acquittal of three men on charges of gang-raping a woman who they say dared them to have sex with her.

The AG, Peter Grech, confirmed that his office had filed an appeal against the judgment but would not reveal the basis of this appeal.

Two weeks ago, the three men walked free after a six-year court case in which they were accused of raping the woman.

Rhys Fiteni and Ronald Briffa, from Senglea and Vittoriosa, who were both 20 at the time, and Keith Bartolo, also from Senglea and who was 19, were accused of gang-raping an 18-year-old girl in April 2006.

They told the court that the woman dared them into the threesome, saying she could sexually handle all three of them at once.

She also said that she did not mind having sex with her cousin.

But the following day, the girl went to the police claiming that she had been gang raped.

Six years later, from the testimony of various witnesses – and forensic evidence revealing no signs of violent conduct – the court ruled the girl was never forced into doing anything against her will.

Among other things, presiding Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera highlighted the inconsistencies in the girl’s testimony.

For instance, the woman claimed that one of the men held her forcefully as the three men took her to the apartment where the alleged rape took place.

However, a friend of theirs who had met the group just moments before the incident testified that it was true Mr Briffa was holding her but it was not in a threatening manner.

The same witness also testified that when she asked where they going, her friend replied she could not join them.