A West Chester man was arrested after police say he physically and sexually abused his wife over a year and then kidnapped her in an attempt to force her to leave the country.
Lirim Rufati, Credit: West Goshen Police
Police say the investigation began after the victim’s friend called 911 and claimed Lirim Rufati, 24, had kidnapped his wife and taken her to JFK airport in New York. The caller claimed the woman was being forced to leave the country against her will by her husband and father-in-law. Police say she was found by a Port Authority police officer as she was about to be placed on a flight to the Republic of Macedonia. Investigators say the woman is a Macedonian citizen who married Rufati, an American, through an arranged marriage in Macedonia.
The woman told Port Authority police in customs she did not want to leave the United States. She also told West Goshen Detectives Rufati took her from her apartment in West Goshen, drove her to New York and ordered her to board the plane to Macedonia as "punishment." During the interview, police say the woman accused Rufati of physically and sexually abusing her over a period of roughly one year while the two lived together in West Goshen.
Rufati was arrested and charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, rape, simple assault and other offenses. He was arraigned with bail set at $250,000 cash. He was transported to Chester County Prison after failing to post bail. Police also say Rufati is a student at West Chester University.
