09-09-2020
Karim Elkorany, a former communications specialist with the United Nations (U.N.), was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting several women while working in Iraq. He began working in Iraq around 2005 and continued until April 2018. In November 2016, Elkorany allegedly had food and drinks with one particular woman, then took her back to his apartment. She became unconscious while at his apartment. She went in and out of consciousness during which time she observed Elkorany sexually assaulting her but was unable to stop him. She alleged that he forced himself into her mouth and penetrated her from behind.
The woman reported the sexual assault to the U.N., which then initiated an investigation. Federal agents thereafter discovered additional evidence that Elkorany had engaged in similar conduct toward other women. In each instance, Elkorany was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting the women while they were either conscious or semi-conscious after they had drinks prepared by Elkorany. After waking up, Elkorany told each woman that they had some type of sexual intercourse with him. Some of the women stated that they had experienced genital and anal discomfort and pain after their experience.
In November 2017, FBI special agents interviewed Elkorany outside of his home in New Jersey about the allegations of the first woman bringing a complaint. Elkorany asserted that those accusations were false and that he had not used drugs on her. As a result of those statements, the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York have charged Elkorany with the drugging and sexual assault of multiple women while working for the U.N.