American rape victim spent time in jail due to revenge plot

Summary of story from The New York Times, July 25, 2011

American woman, Seemona Sumasar, told police she was raped by her ex – but she was the one who spent time in jail.

After the couple had been together a year, Sumasar said that Jerry Ramrattan cornered her at her home in Queens, New York , taped her mouth and raped her.

Authorities say that after he was arrested, Mr Ramrattan sought revenge.

He had previously told Sumasar that he was a police detective, but never seemed to go to work. He was also an avid fan of television police dramas, and it was his knowledge of police procedure which helped him to frame his ex.

One night she was pulled over by police, handcuffed and charged with carrying out a series of armed robberies, based on what police said was a wealth of evidence.

She protested her innocence to police, who – at the time – belittled her claim.

However in December 2010 officials released her from prison after seven months, acknowledging that the entire case against her had been concocted by Ramrattan, because she would not drop the rape charge against him.