DURBAN – A 22-year-old woman appeared before Durban Magistrates Court yesterday for perjury and was released on a warning. The matter was adjourned to 18 August 2022. Her arrest follows a rape case, which she opened at Sydenham SAPS on 18 July 2022. She informed police that her 28-year-old ex-boyfriend broke into her house on the night of 17 July 2022 and raped her. She also told the police that the suspect assaulted her and locked her inside her house.

On 19 July 2022, she returned to the Sydenham police station to withdraw the 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 that the alleged rape was supposed to have occurred. He indicated that his friend was going to leave the woman for someone else and she threated to open a case of rape against the man if he left her. When she was 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 to open a false case. False cases contribute to valuable police resources being wasted and we will ensure that those involved are brought to book.

Source: South African Police Service