British top prosecutor at ICC removed over sexual misconduct claims

Karim Khan, the 56-year-old British barrister who served as the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, has been removed from his post following a vote by member states over allegations of sexual misconduct.

In a secret ballot held at United Nations headquarters in New York, 82 of the court's 125 member states backed his dismissal, according to diplomatic sources.

Mr Khan, who took up the role as the ICC's third prosecutor in 2021, has categorically denied all wrongdoing throughout the scandal, which has unfolded over more than two years.

The Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties determined that he had committed serious misconduct by pursuing an improper sexual relationship with a junior staff member and attempting to prevent her from raising a complaint.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

The allegations first surfaced in May 2024, when a third party reported claims of sexual misconduct to the ICC.

An initial probe by the court's Independent Oversight Mechanism was shut down after the complainant chose not to take part, with investigators concluding there was not enough evidence to support the claims.

A fresh referral in October 2024 saw the case handed to the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services, whose investigation spanned more than a year and produced over 5,000 pages of evidence and testimony.

The complainant, a Malaysian lawyer who served as Mr Khan's direct assistant, spoke publicly for the first time last week.

Identified only as Sarah, she described "an escalation of attempts" culminating in physical assault.

She told CNN: "There is no way for something to be consensual when you have such a power disparity.

"What I think many people don't understand is that Mr Khan was not just my boss, he was everyone's boss."

Mr Khan's legal team mounted a vigorous challenge to the proceedings, publishing an open letter on X urging member states to reject his removal.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Zohran Mamdani now admits he can't arrest Benjamin Netanyahu after making bizarre legal threat
• Zohran Mamdani explores legal bid to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if Israeli PM visits New York
• ‘You’ll be on your own soon!’ Donald Trump issues warning to Benjamin Netanyahu after Israel and Iran exchange strikes

They characterised his suspension as "unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence," arguing that proper procedures for mounting a defence had not been followed.

The lawyers contended that the unpublished investigation had failed to conclusively establish misconduct.

Their letter carried a stark warning about the precedent being set: "Independence carries a price, and the machinery of the court can be turned against its own office-holders whenever their independence becomes inconvenient," they wrote, cautioning that "every future prosecutor will understand the lesson."

The process itself broke new ground for the ICC, with the Assembly of States Parties having to devise fresh rules to handle the unprecedented situation.

Mr Khan was unable to attend the vote in New York, as US sanctions bar him from entering the country.

Washington imposed those restrictions after he sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes linked to the conflict in Gaza.

The Trump administration has since escalated its hostility towards the tribunal, launching a "whole-of-government" effort to dismantle the ICC "brick by brick," threatening visa bans, asset freezes and pressure on allies to abandon the court.

Mr Khan also remains suspended from practising law in Britain, with the Bar Standards Board conducting its own inquiry.

Supporters of the court fear it will emerge from the crisis significantly diminished in its capacity to confront the world's gravest threats.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter