Dutch back removal of ICC prosecutor over misconduct allegations

The Netherlands will vote next week in favour of removing the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Foreign minister Tom Berendsen and justice minister David van Weel said in a letter to parliament on Thursday that the government will follow the recommendation of the court’s oversight body to remove Karim Khan from office.

In June, Khan was formally suspended from his position by the oversight body’s executive committee.

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 underway.

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

The recommendation for his removal came nearly two years after the allegations were first made public.

On Thursday evening, the alleged victim gave an interview to CNN in which she described her fear of an “escalating” series of incidents.

“There is no way for something to be consensual when you have such a power disparity,” the woman, identified by her first name, Sarah, said.

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 on July 24.