Lights out at the UN Mission where South Sudanese diplomat drunk accused of rape works
The diplomat who slipped out of NYPD custody by invoking his immunity after being arrested on suspicion of raping a neighbor on Sunday continues to evade public scrutiny, shielded by the silence of both the State Department and his own government.
Charles Dickens Imene Oliha, 46, vanished after being released from NYPD custody early on Monday morning.
He was arrested after a woman who lives in his building in Fort George near the Bronx called police claiming he followed her into her apartment and raped her twice.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is investigating the allegations. If he does bring charges, NYC Mayor Eric Adams must ask the State Department to appeal to South Sudan to revoke Oliha’s immunity in order for him to be prosecuted.
But the US government is being tight-lipped on whether it’ll do so – or even if Oliha remains in the country.
![Charles Dickens Imene Oliha, 46, vanished after being released from NYPD custody early on Monday morning. He was arrested after a woman who lives in his building in Fort George near the Bronx called police claiming he followed her into her apartment and raped her twice](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61692459-11142339-image-a-44_1661367911276.jpg)
Charles Dickens Imene Oliha, 46, vanished after being released from NYPD custody early on Monday morning. He was arrested after a woman who lives in his building in Fort George near the Bronx called police claiming he followed her into her apartment and raped her twice
![The South Sudanese Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York was locked up with the lights out on Wednesday. Staff at the building said there had been no one there all day and that Oliha hadn't been seen since last week. The country's representatives](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61692455-11142339-image-m-46_1661368131141.jpg)
The South Sudanese Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York was locked up with the lights out on Wednesday. Staff at the building said there had been no one there all day and that Oliha hadn’t been seen since last week. The country’s representatives
![The South Sudanese government claims it is 'urgently addressing' the issue but there has been no sign of any action since he was arrested on Sunday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61692423-11142339-image-m-49_1661368346630.jpg)
The South Sudanese government claims it is ‘urgently addressing’ the issue but there has been no sign of any action since he was arrested on Sunday
If charges are brought and he has fled, an extradition process would be required in addition to the waiving of his immunity in order for him to face the allegations.
The government of South Sudan said on it would ‘urgently’ take measures once the investigation was complete.
The South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement on Tuesday online, but none of the country’s representatives in the US have commented.
‘The report from the Permanent Mission indicated that one of our diplomats was accused of rape by one of the locals in New York City.
‘He was briefly interrogated by police. However as per the report, the investigation is ongoing and will soon have clear details of what has transpired in that incident.
‘The administration is paying keen attention to this report and will urgently takes appropriate measures to address this,’ the statement read.
On Wednesday, there were no employees at the South Sudanese Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, where Oliha has worked for the last several years as a counsellor.
The lights inside the office were turned out and the door locked when DailyMail.com visited.
Staff at the building said they hadn’t seen Oliha since last week, and that only a few employees have come and gone from the office since then.
![This is the official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. They say they learned of the allegation 'with regret' and that it is 'paying keen attention' to the issue - but Oliha remains in the wind](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61692451-11142339-image-m-51_1661368440495.jpg)
This is the official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. They say they learned of the allegation ‘with regret’ and that it is ‘paying keen attention’ to the issue – but Oliha remains in the wind
During a call with reporters on Wednesday, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel refused to confirm whether Oliha was in the US or if he has fled, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.
When asked specifically by DailyMail.com if Oliha is in the country or if he has fled, Patel said: ‘I don’t have anything else to add… we don’t comment on the specifics of ongoing investigations,’ citing a days-old statement from the department.
He also refused to confirm whether the State Department would request that Oliha’s immunity be revoked, should he be charged.
A spokesman for Mayor Eric Adams also refused to be drawn on the subject, saying they wanted to wait for the outcome of the investigation before commenting.
Repeated inquiries to both the South Sudanese embassy in Washington DC and the Permanent Mission of South Sudan to the UN went unanswered.
Doormen at the building where Oliha worked were stunned to learn of the allegations against him.
‘He comes in early in the morning usually and is very nice to everyone. Whoever said he is bad, it is questionable. It is hard to believe.
‘Not Charles. He’s the nicest,’ the men said, declining to give their names.
![The scene outside the apartment building in Fort George, near the Bronx, where police stood guard on Tuesday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61660591-11142339-The_scene_outside_the_apartment_building_in_Fort_George_near_the-a-52_1661368636309.jpg)
The scene outside the apartment building in Fort George, near the Bronx, where police stood guard on Tuesday
![The NYPD says it is bound by the State Department's policy on whether or not he can be charged](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/05/61660593-11138817-The_NYPD_says_it_is_bound_by_the_State_Department_s_policy_on_wh-a-309_1661316340011.jpg)
The NYPD says it is bound by the State Department’s policy on whether or not he can be charged
![On Sunday, Oliha was arrested after a neighbor in his apartment building in Washington Heights called police claiming he had raped her inside their apartment building](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/05/61644231-11138817-On_Sunday_Oliha_was_arrested_after_a_neighbor_in_his_apartment_b-a-301_1661316339632.jpg)
On Sunday, Oliha was arrested after a neighbor in his apartment building in Washington Heights called police claiming he had raped her inside their apartment building
![Favorite tipple: Neighbors said Oliha regularly drank Coors Light outside the apartment building and that this can was his last before he was taken away](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61660589-11142339-Favorite_tipple_Neighbors_said_Oliha_regularly_drank_Coors_Light-a-54_1661368641710.jpg)
Favorite tipple: Neighbors said Oliha regularly drank Coors Light outside the apartment building and that this can was his last before he was taken away
![Online, Oliha claims to have been a diplomat since 2008. He also says he is the founder of a political party in South Sudan](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/05/61660613-11138817-Online_Oliha_claims_to_have_been_a_diplomat_since_2008_He_also_s-a-302_1661316339637.jpg)
![Online, Oliha claims to have been a diplomat since 2008. He also says he is the founder of a political party in South Sudan](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/20/61660603-11142339-Online_Oliha_claims_to_have_been_a_diplomat_since_2008_He_also_s-a-53_1661368639338.jpg)
Online, Oliha claims to have been a diplomat since 2008. He also says he is the founder of a political party in South Sudan
Oliha seems to have lived somewhat of a double life.
At his apartment building, neighbors were stunned to learn he did in fact hold a government role after dismissing his past comments about his work as the ramblings of a drunk.
‘Everyone knows him around here as a drunk, he drinks every night on that front step.
‘He’s not a diplomat. In the morning he’s a gentleman in his suit. In the evening he’s a drunk. He sits on those steps every day drunk and drinking.’
‘He used to tell everyone he worked for the UN but no one believed him because he was always drunk.
‘It wasn’t until this happened that we all were like wow he wasn’t lying,’ one neighbor, who declined to be named, told DailyMail.com on Tuesday as cops stood guard outside Oliha’s wife’s apartment.
South Sudan joined the UN in June 2011, after gaining independence from Sudan following years of turmoil.
Its President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, has not addressed the controversy. In recent months, he has fired six of his government ministers.
Oliha’s accuser claimed he followed her into her apartment on Sunday and raped her twice – once with a condom, and a second time without.
She said the attack occurred in the afternoon and that afterwards, she fell asleep. She called police at around 11pm and was interviewed at midnight.
Oliha was taken into custody and questioned, but was released at 5am on Monday morning.
Since then, there has been no sign of him.