ICC Chief Prosecutor removed over alleged sexual misconduct

International Criminal Court (ICC) member states on Friday voted to remove the court's Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office over alleged sexual misconduct, the court's oversight body announced, reported Xinhua.

The Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute, the ICC's management oversight and legislative body, voted by 82 out of the 125 states parties in favor of Karim Khan's removal, ASP President Paivi Kaukoranta announced.

"The assembly has decided by a majority of 82 states parties that the elected official, Prosecutor Karim Khan, committed serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty ... and to remove the elected official, Prosecutor Karim Khan, from office under Article 46 paragraph 2B of the Rome Statute," Kaukoranta said.

She said the ASP has decided that the allegations against Karim Khan are "an internal workplace complaint of prohibited conduct by an elected official against a subordinate staff member."

She called for respect for the dignity and privacy of all those involved as complaints of misconduct, investigations and disciplinary proceedings are deemed confidential matters.

The ASP held a special session on disciplinary proceedings against Karim Khan at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday.

Karim Khan, a 56-year-old British barrister, was accused of sexual misconduct with a subordinate female staff member. Khan denied the allegations.

Karim Khan, who was elected the ICC's chief prosecutor in February 2021 for a nine-year term, was known for his application for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders, in May 2024.

Following the release of ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, the United States imposed sanctions on Karim Khan.