Lyn Frans
U.N. investigators are probing allegations of sexual misconduct against Karim Khan, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and are also investigating claims of retaliation related to these accusations, according to five sources familiar with the situation.
The inquiry is focused on allegations that Khan took retaliatory actions against staff members who reported claims of sexual misconduct involving a female lawyer under his supervision or who criticized his management of the issue, as stated by three sources with direct knowledge of the U.N. investigation.
The five sources, who requested anonymity due to fears of retaliation, reported that Khan, a British national, had demoted at least four staff members in his office. In a written statement, Khan’s lawyers denied all allegations of misconduct and expressed that he “looks forward to cooperating fully and transparently with the external investigation.” The law firm Carter-Ruck added, “We refer you to our client’s previous statements on this matter, including his strong denials. It is important to understand that our client cannot be expected to provide ongoing commentary on these issues.
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ICC prosecutors are currently investigating several prominent figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of deporting children from Ukraine and for Netanyahu regarding alleged war crimes in Gaza. Both countries are not members of the court and deny the allegations while rejecting the ICC’s jurisdiction.
The ICC’s investigation into Israel’s actions prompted the U.S. to impose sanctions on Khan, which the ICC president has indicated could jeopardize the court itself. According to sources, Khan has not yet been interviewed as part of the inquiry being conducted by the U.N.’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). Both the ICC and an OIOS official have declined to comment on the inquiry concerning Khan.
The governing body of the court, which initiated the U.N. investigation, also refrained from discussing its scope, stating that more information would only be available once the investigation concludes. The ICC is a permanent court that prosecutes individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression in member states or by their nationals. Its 125 member countries include all European Union nations, Japan, Britain, Canada, and Brazil, but exclude the United States, China, and Russia.
Source :Reuters
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These allegations threaten to damage the ICC’s integrity at a time when its authority is already under scrutiny, underscoring the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership within international justice institutions.