The International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened an investigation into its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, on suspicion of sexual harassment of a staff member. The Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC has confirmed its knowledge of possible violations by Khan, but details of the incident have not yet been disclosed, Reuters reported, citing sources.

In response to the allegations, the ICC launched an external investigation to verify the veracity of the allegations. In a document circulated to member states, the ICC asked Khan to temporarily step aside from his duties while the investigation was ongoing. However, Khan himself denies the allegations and insists that the investigation should be conducted internally by the court.

Karim Khan, who has headed the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor since 2021, is one of the most prominent figures in international justice, with high-profile cases to his credit, including issuing arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges related to their international activities.