Gay couples drinks spiked, robbed and raped

[fountainhall]

The basis of this Report has appeared in quite a number of gay publications. Clearly a dreadful experience, and a lesson for travellers anywhere.

I have no reason to doubt the veracity of what these guys say they experienced. But since they are a gay couple and clearly regular travellers (they'd been here a dozen times), certain facts seem odd. Realising they had been raped, knowing there was at least a chance they had been infected with HIV and other STDs and despite realising they'd have to wait to find out about their insurance, why on earth did they wait for five full days without at the very least going to a clinic to check their condition and at least start medication? Testing is cheap. I know they had been robbed but did they really have all their cash with them or easily found in their hotel room?

The moral seems to be fivefold.

1. Always watch how your drinks are prepared and watch who is with you or near you.
2. Always have a small cash emergency and/or one credit card stashed away somewhere that will be difficult to find.
3. Make certain before you leave that your travel insurance company has a 24-hour hotline and accepts claims made in the countries where you will be travelling. Will it pay a hospital direct - if so, which hospitals? If this information is not provided, go to a different company and to hell with any extra cost. The insurance policies taken out by these guys seem to have been all but worthless.
4. If you believe you have been raped, don't hang around. Get a medical check up and medication immediately.
5. Never place your trust in the police or your local Consulate. Neither really wants to be bothered. But insist on written reports from the police and a clinic since these will be required by most insurance companies.