The embattled chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court was suspended from his duties late Monday, after the court’s oversight body referred Karim Khan for disciplinary proceedings.
In a scandal that has dragged on for greater than two years, Khan is facing allegations of sexual misconduct with a female aide. He has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.
A final decision on the fate of the British barrister is now as much as the Assembly of States Parties, the body that oversees the ICC, which is able to hold a special session to determine if Khan can remain in his job at the worldwide court.
The Bureau of the Assembly of States parties — the chief committee of the court’s oversight body — said in an announcement on Monday that it based its assessment on “on the report of an investigation undertaken by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the underlying evidence, the recommendation of an ad hoc Panel of judicial experts, and written submissions.”
The U.N. investigation found evidence that Khan had “nonconsensual sexual contact with (the aide) in his office, at his private residence, and whilst on mission,” based on a replica of its report seen by The Associated Press. Nevertheless, a three-judge panel chosen by the chief committee for a legal assessment of the findings found that the investigation was not conclusive enough.
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Khan had already temporarily stepped down in May 2025 pending the end result of the investigation. The method is unprecedented for the ICC, and the Assembly of States Parties has needed to repeatedly create recent rules to accommodate the situation.
The allegations against Khan were first reported to the court’s independent watchdog greater than two years ago. An AP investigation revealed that Khan was alleged to have seen the lady working in one other ICC department and moved her into his office. She later became an everyday presence on official trips, based on whistleblower documents.
On one foreign trip, Khan allegedly asked her to rest with him on a hotel bed after which “sexually touched her,” the documents said. Other alleged nonconsensual behavior cited within the documents included locking the door of his office and sticking his hand in her pocket. He also allegedly asked her several times to accompany him on a vacation.
Only the Assembly of States Parties has the authority to remove Khan from office, a move that will require a majority in a secret ballot of its 125 member states. Sixty-three countries would want to support a measure to remove him.
No date was immediately set for the session, however the assembly said it will be convened as soon as possible.
© 2026 The Canadian Press