ICC chief prosecutor suspended over sexual misconduct allegations
Karim Khan, facing allegations of misconduct with a female aide, denies any wrongdoing
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been suspended pending a vote by member states on his fate, the court’s governing body said on Monday, following a probe into accusations of sexual harassment made against him.
A diplomatic source briefed on the decision told Reuters the court’s governing body’s executive bureau has ruled Khan had committed serious misconduct following an 18-month-long probe into accusations that the prosecutor had non-consensual sexual interactions with a lawyer in his office. The source added that the bureau has recommended the prosecutor should be removed from office.
The ICC’s governing body would send its conclusion on to all 125 ICC member states which will vote on Khan’s fate in a special session convened at a later date.
In its press release, the bureau said it had made a decision on the disciplinary proceedings against Khan and referred the matter to the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties, but did not give details about what it decided.
“The decision of the Bureau and the related documentation will remain confidential,” the press release said.
Khan’s lawyers said in a statement that he rejected the decision in the strongest terms, and repeated he denies any wrongdoing. “The decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence,” the statement said.