All five youths suspected of raping an underage girl in the coastal city of Zadar have been brought into custody, city police said on Thursday evening.

A panel of Zadar County Court judges on Thursday granted the prosecution appeal and ordered that all five young men be remanded in 30 days’ investigative custody. The ruling cannot be appealed.

The five young men are suspected of raping, sexually exploiting, blackmailing, and physically and mentally harassing a 15-year-old girl for a year.

Zadar police spokeswoman Ivana Grbin said they had received a decision from the court to bring the suspects into custody.

The five young men were brought before judge Ivan Markovic last Friday, when he decided not to detain them. Because of the alleged threats received in the wake of his decision, Markovic requested police protection and went on sick leave.