ICC announces investigation into chief prosecutor over sexual misconduct accusations

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will face an external investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct, its governing body said on Monday.

Karim Khan, who denies the allegations, has said he will engage with the process and continue with his role while the investigation is ongoing.

The investigation follows recent media reports about a document outlining accusations against Khan, understood to include “abuse” and unwanted sexual touching over an extended period of time.

According to the Guardian, a well-regarded female lawyer in her 30s is at the heart of the allegations.

The newspaper reported that Khan and other officials repeatedly urged the woman to disavow claims about his behaviour. Khan denied attempting to deter the woman from withdrawing allegations.

Paivi Kaukoranta, the president of the body charged with overseeing the ICC, said an external investigation was being carried out “in order to ensure a fully independent, impartial and fair process”.

She said the court’s internal watchdog, the Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM), had been relieved from investigating the claims and an external investigation will instead take place to avoid “perceptions of possible and future conflicts of interest”. 

On Monday Khan said: “I welcome the opportunity to engage in this process.”

The female laywer has previously raised concerns about the competence of the IOM, according to the Guardian.

Khan’s lawyers have said he “denies the whole of the allegations”.

“There is no truth to suggestions of such misconduct,” a statement by Khan, 54, said. “I have worked in diverse contexts for 30 years and there has never been such a complaint lodged against me by anyone.”

Khan and his lawyers have described this as "a moment in which myself and the International Criminal Court are subject to a wide range of attacks and threat".

In May, Khan requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahiya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh. Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh have all been killed.

A panel of ICC judges are currently considering the request to issue the warrants.