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SDNY Courthouse, Oct 26 – UN former staff member Karim Elkorany was arrested then freed on $500,000 bond on September 2, 2020 in connection with drugging and raping women in Iraq while working for the UN in 2016, then allegedly lying to the FBI about it in 2017.

  A superseding indictment belatedly unsealed on October 29, 2020 said Elkorany raped a UN contractor, in the US and Dohuk, Iraq. And still the UN did nothing.

On May 24, 2022 Elkorany pleaded guilty: "KARIM ELKORANY, a former communications specialist with the United Nations (“UN”) in Iraq, pled guilty before United States District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald to sexually assaulting an internationally protected person and making false statements to cover up another sexual assault.  In connection with the plea, ELKORANY also admitted that he drugged and/or sexually assaulted seventeen additional victims.                  U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Karim Elkorany admitted today to drugging at least 19 victims, and sexually assaulting at least 13 of them while they were unconscious after he drugged them.  He committed many of his heinous crimes while employed by the United Nations." He raped while employed by the UN - AND THE UN DID NOTHING. In fact, the UN helped him flee and do it again.

Victims have put in letters for sentencing and Inner City Press, banned from entering the UN due to its accountability coverage, has emailed UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, Melissa Fleming, Antonio Guterres and others each day, on each letter, for comment and what the UN ever did. Nothing. Here is Victim 2: "My name is . I worked in the humanitarian aid and development sector in and before accepting a job with in Iraq. When I came to Iraq, I was in love and that relationship changed what I envisioned for my life. I was happy. Although far from home, I had a lifeline to supportive loved ones and was able to pursue my career in good health. I would lose all these things after meeting Karim. In 2014, I met Karim in Erbil. He said the Iraq office was hiring, and they offered me a consultancy. Gregarious and charismatic, Karim waxed lyrical about the privilege and prestige of working for the UN over dinner, or drinks, or cups of tea. I felt proud to work for the U.N. It was there that Karim began to drug and assault me. This would often happen over an evening cup of Chamomile tea. Because I was drugged, I couldn’t hold the memory in my head long enough to process it, let alone talk about it. I was confused and ashamed. Soon, I would find myself utterly isolated due to what I now recognize as a systematic effort to cut me off from my entire support network. My immediate supervisor was a man named Jeffrey Bates, but he was rarely in the office. His absence left Karim unsupervised, unaccountable, and in charge of section. His position offered him an enormous amount of influence and numerous opportunities to supervise me directly and, as a result, chances to sexually assault me. Normal requests quickly became an exercise in control, authority, and humiliation. “You can’t make that call home, I’m calling a meeting.” “I need to know where you are at all times, it’s a security issue.” “You can’t leave this room until I say you’re done with work.” Other UN staff knew about Karim. Before I ever set foot in Iraq, someone warned me to watch out for him. The first day that I arrived on the UN Compound, someone approached me and said: “The moment I saw you, I knew who hired you.”  Full 9 page letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here

On September 3, Elkorany sought a long delay in sentencing - the day after another UN-linked fraudster, Cary Yan, has his indictment unsealed. See a pattern here? Elkorany's letter: "Our firm represents defendant Karim Elkorany in the above-captioned action. We write to request an adjournment of Mr. Elkorany’s sentencing, which is currently scheduled for September 29, 2022."

On September 6 in a partially redacted letter the US opposed, quoting Victim-2 that she mentally prepares for all court dates in this case and is hopeful that the sentencing will give her some relief." To seal / redact about Victim-1, the prosecutors cite US v. Amodeo on "venerable common law exception to the presumption of access to judicial documents."

On September 8, Elkorany's lawyer reiterated the request to delay sentencing - and included in the letter the the Probation Department in its pre-sentencing report is recommending a sentence of 15 years.

On October 17, the US Attorney's Office formally asked for 15 years, and listed 20 victims. Meanwhile, Elkorany is sealing portions of his sentencing memo. Watch this site.

Credulous UN insider media reported, "the woman Elkorany assaulted in 2016 informed the UN at the time, and the organization investigated his conduct. When the UN concluded its own investigation, it referred the case to US authorities, Stéphane Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, said. The FBI began its probe in 2017 and Elkorany resigned from the UN in 2018." 

So even by this apologist account in Bluewashing media giving the UN a Pass, the UN kept paying him after it knew he raped. And never answered the detailed questions of Inner City Press which Guterres banned. The UN is totally corrupt, and USUN in now complicit. We'll have more on this.

 On November 9, 2020 another brief status conference in the case, which Inner City Press live tweeted, below.

On August 17, 2021, Elkorany's motions to try to suppress evidence against him, gathered with search warrants, were denied, order on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.

On January 28, 2022 the US Attorney's Office asked for yet more delay in the UN rape case, to February 28. But it did say "if the parties are unable to reach agreement on a pretrial disposition within that time, the Government expect to ask the Court to set a trial date, citing 18 USC 3771(a)(7) for the proposition that victims have the right to proceeding free from unreasonable delay. Yeah.

On February 28, 2022, the US wrote in again, saying a trial date should be set - but not too soon; one or both defense counsel are unavailable June 9-10, June 14, July 23-August 6 and October 7-21. Oh.

On April 19, yet another conference in the UN rapist case. This time the US Attorney's Office said it is trying to settle the case - with the victims knowledge? - and asked for a date of May 4. That way, they said, if a plea is not reached the case can be reassigned to the trial judge and a request put in by the May 15 deadline to request a large courtroom for a trial. Or if the deadline is missed, more delay. Inner City Press asked, in April: what about the victims? Why is the UN and its rapists treated with such kids-gloves?

On May 4, the US Attorney's Office wrote in to cancel the day's proceeding, saying " The Government has not to date extended a formal plea offer to the defendant and intends to consult with the victims in this case before extending such an offer. Nevertheless, the parties believe that it is likely that a pretrial disposition will be agreed upon in the next two weeks and therefore respectfully request that the Court set a date for a change of plea hearing on May 20, 2022 at a time convenient for the Court. The Government respectfully requests that the change of plea hearing be held in-person. The Government understands the defendant may seek to request to have the hearing via video conference." Photo here. Watch this site.

From November 9, 2020: AUSA Richenthal says the US is reviewing more electronic devices.

Elkorany's lawyer Dawn Cardi asks for 90 more days' delay, since some of the discovery is marked "Restricted."

Judge Buchwald: In the times of COVID, to maintain social distance between lawyer and defendant, 90 days is not unreasonable. We are heading into the end of the year period, very different this year. I ask you to make sure that the 90 days is all the time needed

 And so February 9 at 10:30 am was arrived at. And Inner City Press again covered it, here and below (Podcast here)

 Now on May 17, Elkorany's lawyers say they "have provided to the government defense counsel's pretrial motions... we intend to confer with the government about its view as to how to proceed in terms of filing and/or redacting and/or seeking the Court's permission to file under seal certain documents." Secrets about UN rapes - but this is a public process, despite the UN's routine cover ups.

And delays: on July 23, a request was made to exclude time under the Speedy Trial Act, which is not only for defendants but also the public, from July 30 to October 28. Where is this case going? More immunity and cover up?

From February 9: Elkorany's lawyer wants to delay 90 days.

The Assistant US Attorney says given the victims in this case they want to move faster.

Elkorany's lawyer says she has some state trials so she need more time.

Now AUSA says 30 days to respond to defense's motions. That would be June 10. And see here.

Inner City Press, which has asked the UN in writing for comment, will continue to cover it.

   The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York stated that Elkorany, "a former communications specialist with the United Nations in Iraq, was charged in an Indictment in Manhattan federal court with two counts of making false statements to special agents of the FBI in an effort to conceal his drugging and sexual assault of multiple women while he worked for the UN...In or around December 2016, Victim-1 reported the sexual assault to the UN.  The UN initiated an investigation, through which ELKORANY was notified of the substance of Victim-1’s allegations against him."

  The UN claims it has a zero tolerance and blacklisting policy for sexual abuse, but despite a victim complaining to the UN in this case, on Wednesday Elkorany was leaving freely in New Jersey when he was arrested.

  The superseding indict which was intially wrongly kept under seal says Elkorany raped Victim-2, a UN contractor, in Dohuk, Iraq and in the US. So the UN's inaction contributed to the rape of a UN contractor - and still NOTHING from the UN of Antonio Guterres. We'll have more on this.

 On September 16 the US Attorney's Office, already under fire for withholding information, filed a Protective Order to withhold from the Press and public information about this UN official's "names and/or other identifying information or photographs of individuals alleged to have been sexually assaulted and/or drugged by the defendant or with whom the defendant had a romantic or physical relationship; (b) non-public nude, semi-nude, or sexualized photographs," if it has been " provided to the Government by the United Nations." So the UN has been producing pornography, and is not itself indicted, only this Elkorany? We'll have more on this.

  On September 2 after 6 pm, as exclusively reported by Inner City Press which has been banned from the UN for its questions, was released on a bond to be signed by his father and brother, but allowed to leave home to work from 8 am to 6 pm.

There was another proceeding on September 10, before District Judge Naomi Reice Bulkwald. Inner City Press live tweeted it, here:

Elkorany's lawyer has not responded to the US Attorney's proposed protective order. Note: little in this case should be withheld or sealed - it is about spending public's money for a UN staffer to drug and rape women in Iraq, then have the UN cover it up.

 AUSA Pomerantz: There are cell phone and laptops that the FBI is in the process of extracting.  [What will they show about the UN of  @AntonioGuterres ? ]

 Since the cell phones and devices are being extracted to produce discovery, next date is November 9, 11:45 am. Inner City Press will continue to cover this case and the UN.

Then in the docket, this: "Pretrial Conference as to Karim Elkorany held on 9/10/2020. Initial conference as to Karim Elkorany held by telephone on 9/10/2020. Lara Pomerantz, Amanda Houle and Daniel Richenthal for the government; Dawn Cardi for the defendant; Defendant Karim Elkorany; court reporter present. Conference scheduled for November 9, 2020 at 11:45a.m. Speedy trial time excluded until November 9, 2020."

  Inner City Press also covered the September 2, 6:20 pm presentment of Elkorany, here:

Elkorany is represented by Dawn Cardi of Cardi & Edgar LLP of 99 Madison Avenue.

Judge Cott: I take it you are retained, Ms. Cardi?

Cardi: I am.

Judge Cott: Mr Elkorany, if you are a citizen of another country you may have a right to consular notification.

Cardi: He pleads not guilty.

Judge Cott: First, confirm you are waiving a public reading.

Cardi: Correct.

AUSA Houle: "The parties have a proposed bail package. A $500,000 personal recognizance bond co-signed by his father Awny ELkorany and brother Nor Elkorany. Surrender of all passports by five pm tomorrow. Home detention at parents' home.

AUSA Houle: He can leave 8 am to 6 pm for work.

AUSA Houle: Refrain from any contact with victims. Drug testing and treatment as directed by Pre Trial Services. Release today provided he is fitted for GPS which we understand Pre Trial is prepared to do.

AUSA Houle: Dan Richenthal has confirmed they can do it.  Richenthal: Officer Trale (sp) told me it would be possible to 5 pm. So I'm not positive.

Judge Cott: What do you want to do? Cardi: I am proposing he return home and return tomorrow morning.

Cardi: The suretors probably can't sign today either.

Judge Cott: When was he arrested?

AUSA Houle: 6 am this morning.

Cardi: My client does not have his phone and no money to get back to New Jersey. Can someone lend him the money?

Judge Cott: I cannot deal with minutia like this right now.

  Elkorany was listed as a UN "Communications Specialist" -- Fleming's forte -- on press releases about Toyota, here. He was interviewed on UN Radio, here. But of course, UN Spokesperson Staphane Dujarric claims he knows nothing about it and that Guterres has a "principled position."

 Inner City Press is asking the UN, On UN staffer Karim Elkorany, indicted in SDNY for lying to FBI about drugging and raping women while working for UN in Iraq, immediately state what the outcome of the victim complaining to the UN was - and why Elkorany was back at liberty in New Jersey.

This is specifically asked in the context of this statement: "UNDP participates in a joint project with other UN agencies to maintain a system-wide database called "Clear Check" to ensure that former personnel involved in substantiated cases of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse with one entity in the UN system cannot be employed by another entity." So what did the UN actually do, other than transport a rapist from New Jersey to Iraq then bringing him home to live free?

The case is US v. Elkorany, 20-cr-437 (Buchwald). Watch this site.

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