The Hague: Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has been placed on leave until an investigation conducted by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is completed.

According to Anadolu Agency - English, the investigation into alleged misconduct by Khan is being conducted by OIOS upon request by the Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC, following consultations with the Bureau of the Assembly. The Presidency stated that in Khan's absence, the deputy prosecutors will manage the Office of the Prosecutor and that the court's operations will continue without interruption.

The Presidency assured that the investigation's findings will be handled transparently, adhering to the Rome Statute and the legal framework of the Court. The allegations surfaced in May 2024 when two ICC employees filed complaints about Khan's behavior to the court's independent oversight body. The complaints were lodged shortly before Khan pursued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes.

Khan, who has served as the ICC's lead prosecutor since 2021, is accused of forcing himself on a female assistant in a New York hotel room in December 2023. His lawyers have denied all allegations, describing them as "categorically untrue." The OIOS is expected to report its findings to the president of the assembly upon completion of the investigation.