KUALA LUMPUR — International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been cleared of sexual misconduct allegations by a panel of judges, according to a report by Middle East Eye, as cited by Al Jazeera.
A confidential report submitted to the court’s oversight body found that the factual findings from a United Nations investigation “did not establish misconduct or a breach of duty”.
The three-judge panel concluded that the evidence “did not meet the threshold” required to substantiate the claims, effectively clearing Khan at this stage.
The allegations arose from a complaint by a member of Khan’s office, prompting a UN-led probe by the Office of Internal Oversight Services. The investigation examined claims of inappropriate conduct, which Khan has consistently denied.
Despite the panel’s findings, the matter remains under review. The ICC’s governing body, the Assembly of States Parties, is still assessing both the UN report and the judges’ conclusions before reaching a final determination.
Khan had earlier stepped aside temporarily from his role pending the outcome of the investigation.
The British lawyer, who has served as ICC prosecutor since 2021, is married to Malaysian human rights lawyer Shyamala Alagendra.
The case has drawn significant international attention, coming at a time when the ICC is handling high-profile war crimes investigations, adding to scrutiny over the court’s leadership and credibility. – March 24, 2026