A Sudanese consular official who allegedly gyrated his crotch against a woman on the New York City subway will not face a law enforcement probe because he has diplomatic immunity.
New York transit officers allegedly observed Mohammad Abdalla Ali, a finance attache at the Sudanese Permanent Mission to the United Nations, grinding his crotch against an unnamed woman on the four train near Grand Central Station earlier in January. The victim told police Ali “position himself behind me and repeatedly bumped his pelvis in my side.”
“This made me feel very uncomfortable and uneasy,” she said.
Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that Ali spent considerable time surveying the backsides of many women on the platform before settling on a target. (RELATED: Brock Turner Is Getting Out Of Jail After Serving Half His Sentence)
Ali was taken into custody by officers and charged with sexual assault and forceable touching. However, he was released after officials determined he was a foreign official entitled to diplomatic immunity. The 1978 Diplomatic Relations Act extends immunity from criminal and civil prosecution to foreign diplomats in the professional and personal capacities. Ali’s case was referred to the U.S. Department of State.
“We are aware of allegations of a criminal act by a Sudanese diplomat that led to the involvement of the NYPD,” said Department of State Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner in a statement. “We are in touch with the NYPD and the Mayor’s office so that we are able to take appropriate steps, as needed, to address this matter.”
Members of Ali’s family take exception to the allegations.
“I have a good husband,” his wife told reporters. ”Everything he does is good. Even in my country, he was never involved in anything like this.”
“He prays every time. He could never do that,” a neighbor added. Ali is a practicing Muslim.
The Sudanese Permanent Mission to the United Nations did not respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
Send tips to kevin@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.