THE HAGUE: The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, has stepped apart briefly as an investigation by the United Nations into alleged sexual misconduct by him nears its finish, his workplace mentioned on Friday (Could 16).
The transfer is unprecedented and there’s no clear process for changing Khan. The scenario creates added uncertainty for the ICC, which is already dealing with an existential disaster resulting from US sanctions over its arrest warrants for Israeli officers.
Khan’s workplace mentioned the prosecutor had taken depart till the top of the investigation by the UN Workplace of Inside Oversight Companies.
In a written assertion, Khan’s attorneys rejected all allegations of wrongdoing. They mentioned he mentioned he had taken depart as a result of media consideration on the matter affected his skill to deal with his work however didn’t intend to resign.
“Our consumer stays the prosecutor, has not stepped down and has no intention of doing so,” legislation agency Carter-Ruck mentioned.
In a letter despatched to his workers and seen by Reuters, the prosecutor mentioned that he had been retaining his place beneath fixed evaluation. “In gentle of escalating media studies, I’ve made the thought of choice to take depart,” Khan mentioned.
“My choice is pushed by deep and unwavering dedication to the credibility of our workplace and the courtroom, and to safeguard the integrity of the method and equity to all concerned,” he mentioned.
Khan had earlier ignored calls by NGOs and ICC workers to step down whereas the investigation was beneath method.
