Court staff at the international criminal court have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against chief prosecutor Karim Khan. The concerns stem from Khan’s ties to the UN watchdog that is set to conduct the inquiry. Some officials worry that Khan’s wife, Dato Shyamala Alagendra, who previously worked as an investigator at the UN watchdog, may have acted inappropriately by contacting the alleged victim after the claims were made.
The assembly of state parties announced an external inquiry into the allegations after deciding that an internal body should not re-examine the matter due to concerns about possible conflicts of interest. While the exact details of the investigation have not been disclosed, diplomatic sources suggest that the OIOS will be conducting the inquiry.
Khan, who denies all allegations, has faced backlash from his staff for not taking a leave of absence during the investigation. Concerns have also been raised about his wife’s connections to the OIOS, where she worked as a senior investigator focusing on sexual harassment and abuse from 2019-20. Some staff members found her actions in response to the allegations against Khan to be unusual and inappropriate.
Additionally, Khan’s ties to the head of investigations at the UN watchdog have raised further concerns among his staff. The senior investigator, who previously worked closely with Khan at the UN, is now in a position to be involved in the inquiry into the allegations. While there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the investigator, questions about her impartiality have been raised.
The investigation into Khan’s alleged misconduct comes at a critical time as the ICC judges consider his applications for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Despite Khan’s claims that the allegations may be part of a campaign against him, officials close to him do not believe the accusations are connected to external plots.
As the inquiry unfolds, questions about the independence and integrity of the process remain. The concerns raised by court staff highlight the importance of ensuring a fair and unbiased investigation into the serious allegations against the chief prosecutor of the international criminal court.
