Karim Ahmed Khan, International Criminal Court chief prosecutor. File
| Photo Credit: AP
The embattled chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court was suspended from his duties late on Monday (June 8, 2026), after the court’s oversight body referred Karim Khan for disciplinary proceedings.
In a scandal that has dragged on for more than two years, Mr. Khan is facing allegations of sexual misconduct with a female aide. He has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.
A final decision on the fate of the British barrister is now up to the Assembly of States Parties, the body that oversees the ICC, which will hold a special session to decide if Mr. Khan can remain in his job at the global court.
The Bureau of the Assembly of States parties — the executive committee of the court’s oversight body — said in a statement on Monday that it based its assessment on “on the report of an investigation undertaken by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the underlying evidence, the advice of an ad hoc Panel of judicial experts, and written submissions.”
The U.N. investigation found evidence that Mr. Khan had “nonconsensual sexual contact with (the aide) in his office, at his private residence, and whilst on mission,” according to a copy of its report seen by The Associated Press. However, a three-judge panel selected by the executive committee for a legal assessment of the findings found that the investigation was not conclusive enough.
Mr. Khan had already temporarily stepped down in May 2025 pending the outcome of the investigation. The process is unprecedented for the ICC, and the Assembly of States Parties has had to repeatedly create new rules to accommodate the situation.
The allegations against Mr. Khan were first reported to the court’s independent watchdog more than two years ago. An AP investigation revealed that Mr. Khan was alleged to have seen the woman working in another ICC department and moved her into his office. She later became a regular presence on official trips, according to whistleblower documents.
On one foreign trip, Mr. Khan allegedly molested her, the documents said. He also allegedly asked her several times to accompany him on a vacation.
Only the Assembly of States Parties has the authority to remove Mr. Khan from office, a move that would require a majority in a secret ballot of its 125 member states. Sixty-three countries would need to support a measure to remove him.
No date was immediately set for the session, but the assembly said it would be convened as soon as possible.
Published – June 09, 2026 04:26 am IST
