Someone else pointed out witness tampering. You’re dealing with a pretty brainwashed group. What would you do? Monitor their calls? Hope they don’t get cueing and coaxing? Plans for where to meet to regroup later?
It’s bizarre in the extreme.
The court can issue a gag order. Or restraining orders on the men they're accusing. Taking the victim's phone away is so insanely stupid, only a govt dysfunctionary could have thought it up.