ICC prosecutor Karim Khan suspended pending misconduct probe

International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan has been suspended from his duties pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings related to allegations of sexual harassment, the court said.

In a statement published on its website, cited by foreign media, the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute said the decision takes immediate effect and is not final.

According to the court, the matter has been formally referred to the Assembly of States Parties, which will convene a special session “as soon as possible” to examine the case.

The suspension follows a report stemming from an investigation conducted by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services, alongside available evidence, expert recommendations and written materials reviewed by the Bureau.

Media reports have suggested that the disciplinary proceedings were triggered by allegations of sexual harassment made against Khan.

Khan has been a prominent figure at the ICC, including for his previous efforts to secure an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin.

By Tamilla Hasanova