A 22-year-old woman appeared before the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and was charged with perjury after she allegedly falsely accused her ex-boyfriend of raping her.
Lieutenant-Colonel Nxobile Gwala said the perjury case was adjourned to 18 August.
“Her arrest follows a rape case which she opened at Sydenham SAPS on July 18. She informed the police that her 28-year-old ex-boyfriend broke into her house on the night of July 17 and raped her. She also told the police the suspect assaulted her and locked her inside her house.”
Gwala said the woman returned the following day and withdrew her case. “The investigating officer interviewed her. However, she failed to provide a reasonable explanation for requesting to withdraw the case.
“The ex-boyfriend’s acquaintance was interviewed, and he revealed to police the events of the night the alleged rape was supposed to have occurred. He indicated his friend was going to leave the woman for someone else and she threatened to open a case of rape against the man if he left her.
“When confronted with this information, she confessed to police. She was placed under arrest and detained at Sydenham SAPS for perjury.
“This arrest should serve as a warning to others who are contemplating opening a false case. False cases contribute to valuable police resources being wasted and we will ensure that those involved are brought to book.”
Source: IOL, Sowetan Live, Times Live, Sunday World, image from IOL: Pixabay