ICC prosecutor suspended over misconduct allegations

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court was suspended from his post on Monday night over allegations of sexual misconduct.

The court’s oversight body had “referred the disciplinary proceedings to the Assembly of States Parties”, its executive committee said in a statement.

The British lawyer has denied the allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a female subordinate. He has been on voluntary leave since last year while the investigation was pending.

The Assembly of States Parties, the 125-member body that oversees the court, will now vote on whether to remove Khan from office during a special session. No date has been set.

Two colleagues first reported the behaviour to an internal watchdog in May 2024. The initial investigation was closed within days, but the allegations of unwanted sex and inappropriate contact were leaked to the media, forcing another investigation to be opened.

A UN investigation found that Khan had engaged in inappropriate behaviour, but a panel of judges who reviewed the findings concluded there was insufficient evidence to reach a conclusion.

Khan is currently sanctioned by the United States, along with several others at the court, over the arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.