Boston Uber driver's rape charges dropped after DNA testing

A Boston Uber driver, Hermann Ngoufack Jiokeng, had rape charges against him dropped after a month in jail. The decision came after prosecutors reported negative results from DNA testing that did not support the allegations. Jiokeng, 39, was arrested on February 23 and held without bail until his release on Friday. His attorney, William Gens, explained that additional information showed the prosecution could not prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Jiokeng, who is a father, had pleaded not guilty to the accusations and was due for a hearing on March 27. The charges against Jiokeng caused him to lose his job at Eastern Bank and his position with Uber. Gens expressed concern about the impact of such allegations, saying Jiokeng's reputation was severely harmed. He noted that many people, including neighbors and family, supported Jiokeng and found it hard to believe he could be involved in such an incident. The case developed from a report made by a woman who claimed she had been assaulted after taking an Uber from a bar. Initially, she described her attackers as two white men but later changed her story, implicating Jiokeng, who is Black. The timeline of events and her changing statements drew scrutiny, leading to the prosecution's decision. Gens underscored the importance of maintaining a presumption of innocence when accusations are serious but the evidence is weak. He highlighted that forensic testing did not indicate any crime had taken place. As a result of the case, Gens warned that it should prompt careful consideration of allegations to protect the rights of the accused.