ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan suspended over sexual misconduct allegations

Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has been suspended with immediate effect following allegations of sexual misconduct. The decision was confirmed on Monday by a 21-member oversight body within the court.

Khan stepped aside in May last year, announcing he would take leave while an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct against him was ongoing.

Leaked documents and whistleblower reports allege a range of misconduct, including unwanted sexual contact, coercive behavior spanning a 12-month period, and abuse of authority. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred in his office, at his private home, and during official international travel.

The body responsible for the suspension said that the 125 states parties to the court will meet in a special session as soon as possible to decide on the future of the 56-year-old Brit. The outcome of that meeting could include his removal from office.

In late 2024, allegations surfaced that Khan had behaved inappropriately over an extended period toward a staff member of the Hague-based court. Khan has strongly denied the claims and has called for an independent investigation into the matter. The alleged victim is a female staff member who was reassigned from another department to work directly within Khan’s team.

The probe was carried out by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which found that there was a “factual basis” underpinning the allegations.

While the investigation has since been concluded, the governing body has declined to disclose any further details about the matter.