Background
Two clients were accused of "aggravated rape" despite the encounter having been consensual. The investigation fortunately ended in a finding of no case to answer, but the shock and distress of nearly being branded serious offenders were severe. Our clients resolved to hold the accuser to account and came to Changchun.
What Was at Stake
False accusation in sex offense cases is not easily punished. Indictment and conviction for false accusation are themselves rare, and a custodial sentence rarer still. The key was to prove clearly that the accusation was "false."
How Changchun Helped
Acting for our clients, Changchun pursued a criminal complaint for false accusation together with a civil damages claim, tenaciously assembling the circumstances and the documentary record to prove the accusation was false.
The accuser was sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment in the criminal case, and the civil court ordered compensation for our clients' legal fees and consolation money. It is a rare case showing that false accusation is a serious offense that can lead to actual imprisonment. (Outcomes depend on the facts of each case and may differ.)