South Boston rape suspect hid his face, dangerousness decision delayed
A Boston judge has not decided whether the Uber driver accused of raping a drunk passenger in the back of his vehicle is dangerous as the Brighton man continues to be held without bail.
Judge Margret Albertson took her dangerousness decision under advisement after she heard conflicting reports from the prosecution and defense at Boston Municipal Court in Southie on Friday. The suspect was allowed to hide during the proceedings.
Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Kevin Flaherty asked Albertson to find Hermann Ngoufack Jiokeng, 39, dangerous and that there were no conditions for release that would “reasonably assure the safety of the community.”
Flaherty requested Jiokeng be held for 120 days. The judge approved his motion for evidence exhibits — 911 calls, videos and statements from the victim, witnesses and defendant — to be impounded.
Jiokeng is accused of raping an intoxicated woman he picked up from Loco Taqueria and Oyster Bar on W Broadway in Southie last Saturday. During the ride, the Uber driver allegedly stopped his vehicle and assaulted the victim near her residence, police say.
“The defendant in this case took advantage of the victim when she was in her most vulnerable state,” Flaherty said. “She was highly intoxicated. It was her birthday. She was getting into his Uber, and she was unable, unwilling to consent to any sexual activity.”
The alleged victim provided inconsistent statements to police, including that there was a second person who assaulted her.
Police have not said whether there’s a second suspect. The investigation is ongoing.
Defense Attorney William Gens called the case “highly problematic,” with the alleged victim giving three accounts of the incident, but “no two accounts agree with one another.”
Gens highlighted that one account was of two white males pulling the alleged victim into another vehicle, a second of two white males in the Uber, and a third of two Black males in the Uber.
“There’s no description,” Gens said. “No hair color, no height, no weight, no facial features, no nothing. The only ID they apparently have is they looked up the Uber call.”
Uber immediately banned Jiokeng as a driver when the incident was reported, the company said.
Jiokeng has been held without bail since his arraignment Monday.
Gens told the judge that his client has no criminal record and that he’s never been involved in a court case.
“He is very well known and respected in the community,” the defense attorney said of Jiokeng. “About a dozen people on short notice wrote letters to the judge attesting to his good character. They’re family members, neighbors, other friends.”
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