International Criminal Court prosecutor faces external investigation amid misconduct allegations

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, who is currently under investigation for alleged misconduct, stated that he has no intention of stepping down during the ongoing inquiry.

"I welcome the opportunity to participate in this process [of investigating the allegations]. I will continue carrying out all other duties of the prosecutor in accordance with my mandate, overseeing the cases handled by the International Criminal Court," he said, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The Assembly of States Parties (ASP) made this announcement after the ICC’s internal watchdog opened and quickly closed an investigation into the allegations within just five days.

“An external investigation is therefore being pursued in order to ensure a fully independent, impartial, and fair process,” ASP President Päivi Kaukoranta said in a statement. 

Karim Khan has firmly denied accusations that he attempted to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship. The allegations surfaced amid reports suggesting an Israeli intelligence campaign to undermine the court’s prosecution of Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. 

An investigation revealed that two court employees, to whom the alleged victim had confided, came forward with the accusation in May—just weeks before Khan sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his defence minister, and three Hamas leaders on war crimes charges. 

A three-judge panel is currently considering that request. Khan frequently traveled with the woman after transferring her to his office from another department at the ICC’s headquarters in The Hague. In a statement, Khan acknowledged the new investigation and mentioned that he had asked his two deputy prosecutors to take internal responsibility for the matter. 

“I welcome the opportunity to engage in this process,” he said. Khan also made it clear that he would not step down during the investigation. “I will continue all other functions as Prosecutor, in line with my mandate, across situations addressed by the International Criminal Court,” he stated.

By Naila Huseynova