Administrator of World Criminal Court temporarily resigns – Diepresse.com

The chief ranter of the International Criminal CourtKarim Khan (55), has temporarily resigned in connection with an investigation of alleged sexual assault. The court said that he resigned until the end of an investigation.

An employee of Khan had accused him of several sexual assault over a longer period of time last year. The prosecutor had rejected the allegations as baseless and pushed for an independent examination himself.

A commission of the U.N. examined the accusations since November. Results will be expected shortly. During his absence, Khan’s deputy would take over his tasks, a spokesman for the court said.

Court under strong pressure from the United States

The preliminary withdrawal of the prosecutor comes at a time when the court is under great pressure from the United States, according to the arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Joav Galant due to alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip. US President Donald Trump had imposed sanctions against the court and in particular prosecutor Khan. The work of the court is at risk from the sanctions. The United States and Israel do not recognize the court.

According to media reports, there is also a connection with the arrest warrants. The prosecutor is said to have only requested the arrest warrants after the accusation of abuse had been received.

Arrest warrant against Putin

Khan has been the chief bank of the Criminal Court since 2021. The court pursues suspects for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and aggression. At Khan’s request, an international arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin had also been issued on suspicion of war crimes in Ukraine. (APA/dpa)