Russell Simmons’ rape accuser alleges he fled to Bali to avoid prosecution

By Blue Telusma

·April 16, 2019

(Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Fast Company)

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons may claim he’s taking a sabbatical in Indonesia in search of spiritual enlightenment, but one of the women who has come forward accusing him of sexual assault says it’s a thinly veiled ploy to avoid answering to the accusations themselves.

According to The Blast, the woman — only identified as Jane Doe — has been tied up in a legal battle with the music mogul since she accused him of rape in 1988.

The 61-year-old maintains that the“unsubstantiated allegations” should be thrown out pointing to the fact that these claims were made over three decades ago and the statue of limitations have now passed.

A spokesperson for the music mogul issued the following statement to theGrio:

“The anonymous accuser’s assertion that Mr. Simmons is hiding out in Bali, a country that does not have any extradition treaty with the United States, is false, as are her other accusations against Mr. Simmons, which she claims took place 31 years ago. Likewise, the accusation that Mr. Simmons has traveled to Bali many times over the years, but in the midst of multiple accusations last year, has not yet returned is also false. The fact is Mr. Simmons has been in and out of the United States six times in the last year and will be back for his child’s graduation. The accuser, who has been convicted of a crime, is hoping to hit the lottery in this case, asking at least $10 million based on these false allegations.”

This is not the longtime yogi’s first trip to Bali, a place he has visited many times over the years. However, the timing of his most recent visit last year, right in the midst of multiple sexual accusations, has definitely raised some eye brows. This trip is particularly alarming because he has yet to return and has stepped down from all of his companies, including All Def Digital, Def Pictures, and Tantris, which is his yoga lifestyle brand.

Doe says Simmons was supposed to be sitting down for a deposition in her case, but now, “it is unlikely he will return to the United States to be deposed in this case and face arrest and imprisonment.”

The unnamed woman alleged she was raped by Simmons after attending a Def Jam concert with her son in the 80s. Not only does the father of two vehemently continue to deny the claims, he also accused the woman of filing the complaint for “purposes of publicity,” even though her name has not been released. He is also accusing her of extortion and attempting to collect $36,000 in sanctions.