UN diplomat who allegedly raped NYC woman RELEASED on 'diplomatic immunity'
NEW YORK CITY, MANHATTAN: A United Nations diplomat from South Sudan, Charles Dickens Imene Oliha allegedly raped a woman in Manhattan on Sunday, August 21. However, he has been released without charge because his status provides diplomatic immunity and renders him free from prosecution.
In a police report obtained by New York Post, the 46-year-old was arrested on Sunday itself by the police. Meanwhile, when the investigators confirmed he had diplomatic immunity in such situations. He was immediately released without formally charging him under any sections.
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New York Post further reported that the victim lives in the same building as Oliha. She told cops she went to walk a neighbor’s dog and this is when a man approached her in the lobby. Later he said he was going to follow the woman upstairs to her room, to which she replied, “No, you’re not." However, when she opened the door to her apartment, the suspect forced his way inside, stated the police. The alleged incident happened inside a building on Wadsworth Terrace in Fort George.
Statement from victim and embassy of South Sudan
The victim told the police, that she was raped twice once with a condom and later without the prevention. She claimed that she was in a mental shock and went to sleep after the incident. However, the victim filed a case against Charles Dickens upon a friend's request. Later, She was taken to Columbia University Medical Center for medical attention. Meanwhile, Oliha was arrested by the police after 12 hours but was forced to release after a short time after learning of his residency status. The publication also reached out to Cecilia Adeng, Deputy permanent representative for the embassy of South Sudan, “We aren’t aware of this, I tried calling him just now before I called you, but he didn’t answer, he’s going to be coming in. So I will have a conversation with him and then get back to you, And of course this is not something that’s tolerable at all,” She further added, "So we’ll be reporting to our headquarters and seeing what’s going on.”
Diplomatic Immunity and related cases
According to New York Post, The US adopted its legislation in 1790 that gave “absolute immunity’’ to diplomats and their families and servants. The law has since been revised over the years to decrease the amount of immunity at times and the number of people who might get it. There are similar controversial cases in the past involving diplomatic immunity. One such case is of Artiniano Sosa who is the husband of an Argentine diplomat who was allowed to walk free after allegedly beating a United Nations worker. Similarly, in 2017, Sehon Marshall, 43, who serves as a counselor for the Permanent Mission of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, reportedly punched his wife, Sandra Marshall, 36, in the face after a fight broke out at their Canarsie home. However, he was also able to walk out freely without any charges or prosecution.