Amsterdam, May 16, (dpa/GNA) – Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has temporarily stepped down in connection with an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct, the court announced on Friday.
He will relinquish his duties until the investigation is concluded, the court said.
A staff member has accused the ICC chief of sexual misconduct. Khan, 55, has denied the allegations as baseless and personally called for an investigation.
Media reports have linked the alleged misconduct to the court’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Reports said Khan only applied for the arrest warrant after the misconduct allegations were made.
Court under pressure
Khan’s temporary withdrawal comes at a time when the court is under considerable pressure from the United States following the arrest warrants issued against Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Galant for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on the court and, in particular, on prosecutor Khan, jeopardizing the work of the court.
The United States and Israel do not recognize the court, which prosecutes suspects for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and aggression.
Arrest warrant against Putin
Khan has been chief prosecutor of the court since 2021. At his request, an international arrest warrant was also issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin on suspicion of war crimes in Ukraine.
GNA
PDC