Allegations against ICC war crimes prosecutor Karim Khan still under review despite report he was cleared

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, who investigates war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, has stepped aside temporarily pending an investigation into accusations of a non-consensual sexual relationship with a lawyer in his office. He rejects allegations of wrongdoing.

After a year-long investigation, the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services submitted its confidential fact-finding report in December to the ICC’s executive branch, known as the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties.

A Saturday news report by Middle East Eye said Khan had been cleared of the allegations.

The court, the office of the prosecutor, the Assembly and external lawyers representing Khan did not respond to emails seeking comment, which were sent on Sunday outside of normal working hours.

The sexual misconduct investigation into Khan coincided with US sanctions against him and other court prosecutors and judges for their role in investigating allegations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza, which led to the indictment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The ICC is the world’s court of last resort for international crimes, and has 125 member countries. It has been thrust into an existential crisis by the sanctions and loss of the prosecutor, who is its most prominent official.

Its membership does not include China, Russia or the United States, which have opposed Khan’s issuing of arrest warrants for sitting leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu.