Woman Jailed for False Rape Report

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A 57-year-old woman was sentenced to two months in prison after pleading guilty to making a false rape report against a police officer while she was in custody on May 25th.

Jared Higgs has more details.

Wendy Lewis initially pleaded not guilty, but because she was apologizing while pleading not guilty, Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain sought clarification on what her plea was.

After speaking with an attorney present in court for another matter, Lewis changed her plea to guilty.

Police Prosecutor Lincoln Mckenzie revealed that Lewis was originally under arrest for threats of harm, and claimed that she was raped by an officer at the Wulff Road Police Station in an empty cell.

Mckenzie says officers from the central detective unit investigated, and surveillance video shows that nobody entered the woman’s cell.

Lewis was subsequently charged.

In court on Friday, the grandmother apologized for making the false report.

When asked why she lied, she said she felt bad about being in the cell.

Despite her apology, Swain Lamented the fact that the report was made against a police officer at a time when public confidence in the police force is low.

She says the false claim could seriously damage the officer’s reputation and bring shame and embarrassment to his family.

The Assistant Chief Magistrate said she had no choice but to sentence Lewis to two months in prison.