Former UN official accused of drugging and sexually assaulting women in Iraq
Former UN official accused of drugging and sexually assaulting women in Iraq
A former United Nations official in Iraq has been accused by more than six women of sexual assault.
2 min read
Women accused the former UN worker of sexual abuse [Getty]
Former United Nations official Karim Elkorany has been accused by more than half a dozen women from across the Middle East of sexual assault.
Elkorany, 37 and from West Orange New Jersey, denied the charges against him.
One woman said they had dinner together in Iraq and returned to his apartment, where he allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her, according to authorities.
She had regained consciousness briefly, where she said she could see him attacking her but was physically unable to stop him.
An indictment was unsealed by a Federal District Court and reported by The New York Times.
It said that the woman's case was not isolated event, and that between 2009 and 2016 Elkorany allegedly tried to or sexually assaulted at least six women in Iraq, Egypt and the US.
According to the indictment, in each incident he had drugged the victim, and in some cases victims woke up in pain, or found they were not wearing their clothing.
Elkorany told some of them they had had sex.
Elkorany was never charged with sexual assault but was charged with two counts of lying to the FBI during questioning in 2017.
"Elkorany compounded his alleged unconscionable conduct by making false statements to the special agents investigating the assaults," said Audrey Strauss, the acting US attorney in Manhattan.
Elkorany falsely denied to the agents the allegations made against him by the woman in Iraq.
The case is ongoing, and Elkorany on Wednesday appeared before a federal magistrate judge and pled not guilty, with his lawyer saying he intends to “fight” the charges.
UN investigation
Elkorany worked in international aid and foreign relations as well as UNICEF from 2005 to 2018.
After the woman in Iraq reported the alleged sexual assaults to the UN in 2016, the organisation investigated the incidents and he was forced to resign two years later.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told The Times they referred the allegations to the authorities.
He added that the UN "appreciates actions by member states to ensure that United Nations personnel who may have engaged in criminal conduct are held accountable, in particular with respect to criminal allegations relating to sexual exploitation and abuse".
Elkorany, 37 and from West Orange New Jersey, denied the charges against him.
One woman said they had dinner together in Iraq and returned to his apartment, where he allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her, according to authorities.
She had regained consciousness briefly, where she said she could see him attacking her but was physically unable to stop him.
An indictment was unsealed by a Federal District Court and reported by The New York Times.
It said that the woman's case was not isolated event, and that between 2009 and 2016 Elkorany allegedly tried to or sexually assaulted at least six women in Iraq, Egypt and the US.
According to the indictment, in each incident he had drugged the victim, and in some cases victims woke up in pain, or found they were not wearing their clothing.
Elkorany told some of them they had had sex.
Elkorany was never charged with sexual assault but was charged with two counts of lying to the FBI during questioning in 2017.
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"Elkorany compounded his alleged unconscionable conduct by making false statements to the special agents investigating the assaults," said Audrey Strauss, the acting US attorney in Manhattan.
Elkorany falsely denied to the agents the allegations made against him by the woman in Iraq.
The case is ongoing, and Elkorany on Wednesday appeared before a federal magistrate judge and pled not guilty, with his lawyer saying he intends to “fight” the charges.
UN investigation
Elkorany worked in international aid and foreign relations as well as UNICEF from 2005 to 2018.
After the woman in Iraq reported the alleged sexual assaults to the UN in 2016, the organisation investigated the incidents and he was forced to resign two years later.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told The Times they referred the allegations to the authorities.
He added that the UN "appreciates actions by member states to ensure that United Nations personnel who may have engaged in criminal conduct are held accountable, in particular with respect to criminal allegations relating to sexual exploitation and abuse".
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