British ICC prosecutor who sought to arrest Netanyahu for ‘struggle crimes’ faces disciplinary costs over intercourse harassment claims
A British International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor who sought to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces disciplinary charges over claims he sexually harassed a colleague.
Members of the ICC’s oversight body voted to bring about proceedings against Karim Khan KC, 56, who was accused by a female aide of misconduct.
But Mr Khan’s lawyers claimed he had not been directly informed of the decision, and that the move contradicted advice to the court from an investigatory panel of judges.
It was previously reported that one of Mr Khan’s alleged victims, a former female colleague, claimed he had sex with her without consent, an allegation which the prosecutor denies.
An investigation was launched as a result, and Mr Khan took a leave of absence from his role.
The claims of sexual harassment first emerged in 2024, raising concerns over the court’s internal processes.
Mr Khan’s lawyers told the Times it was ‘alarming’ that the 21-strong ‘political bureau’ at the court had overruled the judges’ panel, which had previously reached a ‘unanimous and unequivocal conclusion’ that no misconduct had taken place.
Now, however, 15 members of the ICC’s supervisory body have voted in favour of bringing disciplinary proceedings against Mr Khan, with two abstaining from the vote and four voting against.
British chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan (pictured) faces disciplinary charges over claims he sexually harassed a colleague
Mr Khan had previously controversially sought the arrests of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) and former defence minister Yoav Gallant in May 2024
She told The Guardian that he subjected her to a ‘constant onslaught’ of sexual advances and repeatedly sought to pressure her into sexual activity.
Mr Khan, through his lawyers, has said it was ‘categorically untrue that he has engaged in sexual misconduct of any kind’.
In May 2024, the ICC prosecutor controversially sought the arrests of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant in May 2024 – just two weeks after the woman made sexual harassment allegations against him.
The allegations included that Mr Khan performed non-consensual sex acts with her over an 11-month period during official trips to New York, Colombia, Chad and Paris.
In August last year, a second woman had come forward to investigators, accusing Mr Khan of sexual misconduct.
The Daily Mail contacted Mr Khan’s representatives for comment.
