Reuters: ICC chief prosecutor alleged to have penalized staff members for leaking claims of sexual misconduct
Karim Khan has denied the allegations against him and intends to cooperate with the investigation, according to his lawyers. UN investigators have widened their inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct involving International Criminal Court Chief...
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Karim Khan has denied the allegations against him and intends to cooperate with the investigation, according to his lawyers.
UN investigators have widened their inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct involving International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to encompass claims of reprisals against staff, as reported by Reuters. Khan has categorically rejected all allegations.
According to sources cited by the outlet, Khan is being investigated for purported sexual harassment of a female subordinate and is accused of demoting at least four staff members who reported or raised concerns about the incident. The investigation, led by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services, is reportedly looking into these claims.
Khan’s legal team has dismissed all assertions, emphasizing that he “looks forward to cooperating fully and transparently with the external investigation” and asserting that he “has not engaged in sexual misconduct of any kind and nor, to be clear, has he engaged in any ‘retaliatory behaviour’ as alleged.”
The ICC has confirmed that an external investigation into Khan’s alleged misconduct has commenced. Notwithstanding the ongoing inquiry, Khan, who has served as the court’s chief prosecutor since 2021, continues to supervise investigations, including those related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
In February, he faced sanctions from the US after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. As a result, Khan’s assets in the US have been frozen, and he is prohibited from entering the country.
Khan has described the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign targeting his office, which he claims has been subjected to "a wide range of attacks and threats."
The ICC holds the authority to prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression committed within its 125 member states or by their nationals. However, significant powers such as the US, Russia, and China are not parties to the court and do not acknowledge its rulings.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
UN investigators have widened their inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct involving International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to encompass claims of reprisals against staff, as reported by Reuters. Khan has categorically rejected all allegations.
According to sources cited by the outlet, Khan is being investigated for purported sexual harassment of a female subordinate and is accused of demoting at least four staff members who reported or raised concerns about the incident. The investigation, led by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services, is reportedly looking into these claims.
Khan’s legal team has dismissed all assertions, emphasizing that he “looks forward to cooperating fully and transparently with the external investigation” and asserting that he “has not engaged in sexual misconduct of any kind and nor, to be clear, has he engaged in any ‘retaliatory behaviour’ as alleged.”
The ICC has confirmed that an external investigation into Khan’s alleged misconduct has commenced. Notwithstanding the ongoing inquiry, Khan, who has served as the court’s chief prosecutor since 2021, continues to supervise investigations, including those related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
In February, he faced sanctions from the US after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. As a result, Khan’s assets in the US have been frozen, and he is prohibited from entering the country.
Khan has described the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign targeting his office, which he claims has been subjected to "a wide range of attacks and threats."
The ICC holds the authority to prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression committed within its 125 member states or by their nationals. However, significant powers such as the US, Russia, and China are not parties to the court and do not acknowledge its rulings.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
