The International Criminal Court has approved an external probe into sexual misconduct accusations against its top prosecutor, Karim Khan. Despite the court’s internal watchdog closing the case within five days, the allegations claim Khan attempted to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship. The accusations come at a time when the court is prosecuting Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza amid reports of an Israeli intelligence campaign to discredit the court. The probe is set to be conducted by law enforcement officials from Europe, a law firm, or potentially the United Nations’ internal watchdog.
Neither Päivi Kaukoranta nor Khan’s attorney has responded to requests for comment regarding the probe. The allegations came to light when two court employees, in whom the victim confided, reported the incident in May. Khan was accused of allegedly sexually touching the woman during a foreign trip and behaving inappropriately in other instances, such as locking the door of his office and sticking his hand in her pocket. Despite the court’s internal watchdog urging Khan to minimize contact with the woman, the inquiry was closed within five days.
Under Khan’s leadership, the ICC has taken a more assertive stance in combating crimes against humanity, war crimes, and related atrocities. However, this has resulted in the court facing cyberattacks and hiring an intern who was later charged with being a Russian spy. Israel has also reportedly been targeting senior ICC staff as part of an influence campaign since the court recognized Palestine as a member and opened a preliminary investigation into Israel’s actions. An external probe into the allegations against Khan goes beyond his initial request for the ICC’s internal watchdog to investigate.
The external investigation was approved by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the court’s oversight body. It remains uncertain who will conduct the probe, but possibilities include law enforcement officials from Europe, a law firm, or the United Nations’ internal watchdog. Khan proposed an internal investigation after the allegations surfaced but has not commented on the external probe. The accusations, which include non-consensual behavior and inappropriate advances towards a female aide while on a foreign trip, have raised concerns about the court’s integrity.
The allegations against Khan come at a critical time as the ICC prosecutes Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Despite Khan denying the accusations of sexual misconduct, an external probe has been approved to investigate the matter further. The ICC’s internal watchdog closed the case within five days due to the victim’s distrust, but calls for an investigation have continued. The external investigation will aim to uncover the truth behind the allegations and ensure the integrity of the court is maintained amidst growing challenges and influence campaigns targeting the ICC.
