Tunisian appeals court doubles the sentences of 2 policemen convicted of raping a woman

TUNIS, Tunisia – A Tunisian appeals court has increased the prison terms of two policemen convicted of raping a woman from seven years to 15.

The woman's lawyer, Radhia Nasraoui, said Thursday that the two-year sentence for a third policemen accused of exhorting money from the victim's fiancé remained unchanged.

The three policemen came upon the woman and her fiancé in a car in September 2012. She said two of the officers took turns raping her while the third held her fiancé back, then forced him to withdraw money from an ATM.

The couple had initially been charged with immoral behavior, sparking an uproar.

The case has been seen as a test of justice in post-revolutionary Tunisia.

The seven-year sentence was given in April, and the defense denounced it as too lenient.