ICC chief prosecutor suspended over sexual misconduct allegations

AMSTERDAM - International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan was suspended from duty with immediate effect late Monday over suspected sexual misconduct, reported German news agency dpa.

A final decision on his possible removal from office is to be taken at a special session of the court’s member states, the ICC oversight body said in The Hague. The session is to be held as soon as possible.

The Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties, the executive committee of the ICC oversight body, said its assessment was based 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."

In 2024, a close colleague accused the British prosecutor of sexual misconduct. Khan is alleged to have repeatedly harassed her over an extended period and forced her to perform sexual acts.

A United Nations commission investigated the allegations and submitted its report in December 2025. The report has not been published.

Three judges at the international court submitted a legal opinion based on the investigation. That opinion has also not been published.

Khan, 56, has been temporarily standing aside from his role for about a year and had said he wanted to return once the allegations had been clarified. He denies all allegations.

Khan had served as chief prosecutor since 2021 and had requested the ICC to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others.

The United States stepped up pressure on the court, particularly over the arrest warrant against Netanyahu, and imposed sanctions on staff and judges.

A total of 125 states have signed the court's founding treaty, including all EU member states. The US, Russia and Israel are not members of the court. - BERNAMA