British lawyer Karim Ahmad Khan, who represented President William Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and who now serves as the ICC's prosecutor has been accused of misconduct towards a member of his office.
On Thursday October 24, the President of the ICC’s Assembly of State Parties, its management oversight, and legislative body said he was aware of recent public reports regarding alleged misconduct by Karim Ahmad Khan towards a member of his office.
“I am aware of recent public reports regarding alleged misconduct by the ICC prosecutor towards a member of his office. I can confirm that the independent oversight mechanism (IOM) was seized of this matter based on a third-party report,” read official communication.
"The court adheres to a "zero-tolerance policy towards prohibited conduct, such as harassment, including sexual harassment, discrimination and abuse of authority," the statement further read.
The case involving Khan was referred to the ICC's oversight mechanism in May 2024. The IOM deals with claims of misconduct against the court's elected officials. No official investigation was opened at the time.
Reacting to the accusations, Khan denied the accusations saying he would be willing to provide any information needed to the court's Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM). He also noted that his office has been the target of a "wide range of attacks and threats."
“There is no truth to suggestions of such misconduct. I have worked in diverse contexts for 30 years and there has never been such a complaint lodged against me by anyone.”
As this happens, the prosecutor has recently faced intense criticism from Israeli supporters over applications for the arrests of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza which he issued in May 2024.
The court’s governing body accused the prosecutor after a panel of judges at the ICC considered the applications of the arrest warrants.
Khan had also requested arrest warrants for senior Hamas figures including its then leader, Yahya Sinwar, but they are all since believed to have been killed.
The British lawyer represented President William Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC). At the time, Ruto was serving as Kenya's Deputy President.
The ICC court threw out the case against Ruto but refused to acquit him. Ruto denied murder, deportation, and persecution charges levelled against him relating to the violence that followed the 2007 elections in which approximately 1,200 people were killed.
