Three Albanian nationals believed to have raped and tortured an alleged fraudster from Cameroon over a six-month period, in a bid to recoup lost cash, have been arrested while another three are being sought, police in Athens said yesterday.

The six Albanians are alleged to have kidnapped the 32-year-old Cameroon national in April, believing him to belong to a ring of fraudsters that relieved them of 50,000 euros using a scam and fake bank notes.

According to police, the 32-year-old was tied up in a forest in Kapandriti, near Athens, where he was repeatedly beaten and raped until mid-September. The gang members are then alleged to have taken the man to a basement apartment in Kato Patissia, central Athens, where the rape and abuse continued. The victim was subjected to electric shocks and other forms of torture, police said.

In the meantime, ring members contacted his sister, based in Paris, demanding a ransom of 100,000 euros. She alerted authorities who traced the victim after he described to them over the phone what he could see through the window of the flat.