Karim Khan —ICC picture
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Worldwide Prison Courtroom will launch an exterior probe into sexual misconduct accusations towards its prime prosecutor, The Related Press (AP) has realized, holding alive a case that the courtroom’s inside watchdog had closed inside 5 days.
Karim Khan has categorically denied the accusations that he tried to coerce a feminine aide right into a sexual relationship, and the claims come amid studies of an ongoing Israeli intelligence marketing campaign to discredit the courtroom’s prosecution of Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged warfare crimes in Gaza.
The exterior investigation was authorised this week at a gathering of the courtroom’s oversight physique, the Meeting of States Events to the Rome Statute, based on three individuals accustomed to the matter who spoke to AP on situation of anonymity to debate the closed-door deliberations.
READ: ICC prosecutor who charged Netanyahu faces sexual abuse rap
Battle-of-interest issues
It was unclear precisely who would conduct the probe, the individuals mentioned, noting that prospects included legislation enforcement officers from Europe and a legislation agency. The United Nations’ inside watchdog has additionally been mentioned for such a probe however that may very well be fraught with conflict-of-interest issues as a result of Karim’s spouse, a outstanding human rights legal professional, had beforehand labored on the company in Kenya investigating sexual harassment.
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Neither Päivi Kaukoranta, a Finnish diplomat at present heading the ICC’s oversight physique, nor Khan’s legal professional instantly responded to requests for remark.
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An AP investigation discovered that two courtroom staff in whom the alleged sufferer confided got here ahead with the accusation in Might, just a few weeks earlier than Khan sought arrest warrants towards Netanyahu, his protection minister and three Hamas leaders on warfare crimes costs. A 3-judge panel is now weighing that request.
AP reported that Khan traveled regularly with the girl after transferring her to his workplace from one other division on the ICC’s headquarters in The Hague.
Throughout one international journey, Khan allegedly requested the girl to relaxation with him on a lodge mattress after which “sexually touched her,” based on whistleblower paperwork shared with the courtroom’s watchdog and seen by the AP. Later, he got here to her room at 3 a.m. and knocked on the door for 10 minutes.
Different allegedly nonconsensual conduct cited within the paperwork included locking the door of his workplace and sticking his hand in her pocket. He additionally allegedly requested her on a number of events to go on a trip collectively.
Inquiry closed inside 5 days
After the 2 co-workers reported the alleged conduct, the courtroom’s inside watchdog interviewed the girl however she opted towards submitting a grievance as a consequence of her mistrust of the watchdog, based on the AP investigation. Khan was by no means questioned and the watchdog’s inquiry was closed inside 5 days.
Whereas the courtroom’s watchdog couldn’t decide wrongdoing, it nonetheless urged Khan in a memo to reduce contact with the girl to guard the rights of all concerned and safeguard the courtroom’s integrity.
Beneath Khan, the ICC has develop into extra assertive in combating crimes towards humanity, warfare crimes and associated atrocities. Alongside the way in which, it has added to a rising listing of enemies.
Final September, following the opening of a probe into Russian atrocities in Ukraine, the courtroom suffered a debilitating cyberattack that left employees unable to work for weeks. It additionally employed an intern who was later criminally charged within the US with being a Russian spy.
Israel has additionally been waging its personal affect marketing campaign ever for the reason that ICC acknowledged Palestine as a member and in 2015 opened a preliminary investigation into Israel’s actions.
London’s The Guardian newspaper and a number of other Israeli information retailers reported this summer season that Israel’s intelligence businesses for the previous decade have allegedly focused senior ICC employees, together with placing Khan’s predecessor underneath surveillance and exhibiting up at her home with envelopes filled with money to discredit her.
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An exterior probe would go additional than what Khan proposed when, following the AP report, he known as on the ICC’s inside watchdog to research the matter and mentioned he would absolutely cooperate. —AP
