ICC chief prosecutor suspended over allegations of sexual misconduct with aide – National
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court was suspended from his duties late Monday, after a panel of the court referred Karim Khan for disciplinary action.
In a scandal that has lasted more than two years, Khan is facing allegations of sexual misconduct with a female assistant. He strongly denied the mistakes.
The final decision on the future of the British attorney is now in the Assembly of States Parties, the body that oversees the ICC, which will hold a special meeting to decide whether Khan can continue his work at the world court.
The groups of the Bureau of the Assembly of States – the executive committee of the organization that oversees the court – in a statement on Monday that it is based on its assessment “on the report of the investigation carried out by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the primary evidence, the advice of the temporary Panel of legal experts, and written proposals.
The UN investigation found evidence that Khan “had met (with the aide) without permission in his office, residence, and work,” according to a copy of its report seen by the Associated Press. However, a three-judge panel appointed by the executive body to review the legal findings found the investigation insufficient.
Get daily world news
Get daily Canadian news delivered to your inbox so you don’t miss the top stories of the day.
Khan had already resigned temporarily in May 2025 pending the outcome of the investigation. The process has never happened at the ICC, and the Assembly of States Parties has had to repeatedly create new rules to deal with the situation.
Allegations against Khan were first reported to the independent judiciary more than two years ago. An AP investigation revealed that Khan allegedly saw the woman working in another ICC department and took her to his office. He later attended regular official visits, according to the documents that issued the report.
On one trip abroad, Khan allegedly asked her to relax in a hotel bed with him and then “sexually touched her,” the documents said. Other alleged disagreements revealed in the documents include locking his office door and putting his hand in his pocket. It is said that he has repeatedly asked her to accompany him when they go on vacation.
Only the Assembly of States Parties has the power to remove Khan from office, a move that would require a majority in a secret ballot of its 125 member states. Sixty-three countries will need to support the move to remove him.
No date has been set for the meeting, but he said the meeting will be called soon.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
