ST ANN, Jamaica — A woman who police say falsely claimed that she was raped has been charged with creating public mischief. She is to appear in court on April 1, according to commanding officer for the St Ann Police Division Superintendent Dwight Powell.

The lawman opted not to identify the woman by name.

Initial reports of the rape sparked concern and fear among many Jamaicans after details circulated on social media last month. At February’s meeting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation, councillors called for the woman to be charged after Powell said she had retracted her statement as soon as the police were about to apprehend a suspect.

During yesterday’s monthly meeting he again warned against making false claims.

“I’m going to say to the public that whenever they are making reports to the police, they must be certain of where they are going because when those reports are investigated and they are not proven then there are other recourses that are left for law enforcement,” Powell said.

In January, several incidents of rape were reported in and around Ocho Rios in communities including Pineapple, as well as some in the Fern Gully area. Some cases also occurred in bordering St Mary.

Donicka Robinson