Karim Khan, 56, is accused of sexual misconduct involving a female assistant in a controversy persisting for over two years. He denies all accusations firmly.

Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, was relieved of his duties late Monday after the court’s supervisory authority initiated disciplinary proceedings against him due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

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Khan faces accusations of sexual misconduct with a female aide, with the case spanning more than two years, all while he consistently refutes any faults.

He had previously stepped aside temporarily in May 2025, awaiting the investigation’s result. This situation is unprecedented for the ICC, with the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) repeatedly adapting regulations to manage the case.

The ASP’s 21-member bureau resolved to escalate Khan’s matter to the full ASP, representing every ICC member state.

The bureau, «by qualified majority… decided to suspend the Prosecutor immediately from his position until the Assembly of States Parties, as the competent authority, makes the final ruling,» according to an official statement.

This decision rested on “the findings of an investigation by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the related evidence, recommendations from an ad hoc Panel of judicial experts, and written submissions.”

It was further noted that Khan’s suspension during the assembly’s consideration “does not imply a conclusive verdict.”

The UN inquiry uncovered proof that Khan engaged in “nonconsensual sexual contact with (the aide) at his office, private home, and during a mission,” as reported in a copy of the investigation obtained by The Associated Press. Nevertheless, a three-judge panel appointed by the executive committee to legally assess these findings deemed the investigation inconclusive.

This suspension is unlikely to affect the court’s routine operations significantly. Khan has already been excluded from participating in the ICC’s most high-profile case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Additional sources • AP, AFP