Diplomat arrested in New York dodges rape charge due to immunity: reports

• A South Sudanese diplomat to the UN was arrested in New York on suspicion of rape.
• He was accused of forcing his way into his neighbor's apartment and raping her twice.

A South Sudanese diplomat to the United Nations was arrested in New York City after being accused of raping his neighbor but was released by authorities without charges because he had diplomatic immunity, according to multiple reports.

Charles Oliha, 46, was accused of forcing his way into the upper Manhattan apartment of his neighbor on Sunday and raping her twice, New York Daily News first reported.

The woman alleged that Oliha had made advances toward her while she was walking her dog and that he followed her to her home after she turned him down, The New York Post reported, citing a police report and unnamed sources.

Oliha was arrested on suspicion of rape and was taken in for questioning, per The Post. However, he was released without being charged after telling the New York Police Department's Special Victims Unit that he was a diplomat, the outlet reported.

An NYPD spokesperson told Insider that a report for rape was filed from New York's 34th Precinct stating that the assault took place around noon on Sunday.

"A female victim known to the Department states when she arrived at the location a male suspect opened the front door to the building and then followed her up the steps and pushed his way into her apartment," the spokesperson said. "The suspect then forced the victim to engage in sexual intercourse and fled the location. The investigation remains ongoing."

The spokesperson did not respond to additional questions on whether the suspect was detained or released.

The woman who accused Oliha said she went into shock after the alleged assault and then slept – but called 911 several hours later, The Post reported.

New York Daily News reported that she was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia for medical evaluation.

The outlet wrote that Oliha's neighbors expressed surprise when told of the allegations of rape against him.

The South Sudanese Mission to the UN in Manhattan, the UN Press Office, and the US Department of State did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said an investigation was underway and that "sexual assault of any kind should never be tolerated," per The Guardian.

Envoys and officials around the world — including some from the US and Europe— have successfully made use of diplomatic immunity to escape charges before.

In one controversial case, the wife of a US diplomat in the UK claimed diplomatic immunity and fled the country after being involved in a car crash that killed a British teenager.