Paki/Brit/Muslim ICC law chief bringing war crimes case against Israel 'tried to use Gaza to silence his sex assault accuser'
The law chief seeking the prosecution of Israel for war crimes told the woman he is accused of sexually assaulting that she would be harming Palestinians if she didn't drop the allegations, according to reports.
Karim Khan KC, 55, who has served as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2021, has spearheaded movements to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Khan last year announced his intention to seek arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and his then-defence minister, Yoav Gallant, on charges of alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The Mail on Sunday first revealed that Mr Khan lodged the application for the arrest warrants two weeks after discovering he himself had been accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague.
And a new Wall Street Journal investigation claims to have heard recordings of a telephone call - which forms a United Nations (UN) investigation into the claims - where Mr Khan can allegedly be heard pleading for the victim to drop the allegations by using the plight of Palestinians as leverage.
He is said to have told the complainant: 'The casualties [of her allegations] will unfortunately be three: You and your family, me and my family and the justice of the victims.'
On another occasion, he reportedly told her: 'Think about the Palestinian arrest warrants,' according to another alleged testimony to the UN.
The newspaper alleges that Mr Khan pressured the complainant - believed to be a Malaysian woman in her 30s - into having 'non-consensual sexual intercourse' on numerous occasions.
Karim Khan KC (pictured), who has served as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court since 2021, has spearheaded movements to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Mr Khan last year announced his intention to seek arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu (right) and his then-defence minister, Yoav Gallant (left) on charges of alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza
In one testimony to the UN in December 2023, claims were said to have been made that the the woman was called to Mr Khan’s suite at the Millennium Hotel, New York.
She reportedly claimed that despite trying to leave the room several times, Mr Khan would make repeated sexual advances before pulling her to the bed and forcing her to have intercourse.
The woman, who is married with a child, is alleged to have told UN investigators that she felt 'trapped' by the behaviour.
It is reported that Mr Khan behaved similarly on work trips with the colleague to Colombia, Congo, Chad and Paris, and at a residence owned by his wife in The Hague - where the ICC is headquartered.
The alleged victim - who is also a lawyer - reportedly said she was reluctant to complain because she did not want to risk losing her prestigious job.
She is also said to have been concerned over the financial impact it would have on her ability to pay medical bills for her mother, who was dying of cancer.
The complainant reportedly claimed that despite trying to leave the room several times, Mr Khan (above) would make repeated sexual advances before pulling her to the bed and forcing her to have intercourse
It is reported that Mr Khan (above) behaved similarly on work trips with the colleague to Colombia, Congo, Chad and Paris, and at a residence owned by his wife in The Hague - where the ICC is headquartered
The newspaper added that the UN is reportedly investigating whether Mr Khan attempted to threaten those who reported his alleged misconduct, information they say came from ICC officials.
Mr Khan’s lawyers are claimed to have said their client informed the US State Department of his motion to seek an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu before the allegations were made against him.
The father-of-two was elected as the ICC prosecutor in 2021.
In 2023 he was instrumental in the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin put him on a 'wanted' list.
But his announcement on May 20, 2023, that he had asked judges for arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant sparked worldwide condemnation.
In a furious statement, former US President Joe Biden said: '...let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas.'
Mr Netanyahu called it a 'moral outrage of historic proportions', while Mr Gallant branded it 'despicable'.
Rishi Sunak's Government also issued a legal challenge, questioning the ICC's jurisdiction over Israeli citizens.
In a move slammed by Jewish groups, Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Government later said it would not object to Khan's request, saying the warrants were a matter for the courts to decide.
MailOnline has approached the ICC for comment.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14700901/British-law-chief-war-crimes-Israel-Gaza-silence-sex-assault.html
Karim Khan
Mr Khan (left) pictured with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Labour foreign affairs spokesman David Lammy supported the attack against Israel
The decision to seek an arrest warrant against Israel 's PM Benjamin Netanyahu was the first time an ICC prosecutor had targeted a leader of a close Western ally, outraging President Joe Biden
'There is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security,' President Joe Biden said
The White House slammed the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants for Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu after it was revealed that Amal Clooney Masterminded the move. She could be banned from entering the USA.
Rep. Elise Stefanik was in Israel when the ICC decision was announced
Karim Khan said the arrest warrants are for war crimes
The chief prosecutor (pictured) of the International Criminal Court is defying pressure from senior colleagues to step aside amid a probe into sexual misconduct allegations against him
The three senior colleagues who have urged Mr Khan to step down are include American lawyer Brenda Hollis, the leader of the ICC's Palestine investigation, who stood at Mr Khan's side when he controversially announced he was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu (right) and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant (left)
Mr Khan, 54, announced his war crimes case against Israel just two weeks after being told that a female lawyer at the International Criminal Court (ICC) had made serious allegations of sexual misconduct against him
An external investigation was launched examining allegations that Mr Khan (pictured) groped the woman in his office and 'sexually touched' her while on a work trip
It is alleged that Karim Khan, 54, (pictured) groped the woman in his office and allegedly got into her hotel bed and began 'sexually touching' her
It comes amid a crisis for the ICC, and for Mr Khan himself (pictured), who was banned from entering the United States as part of an executive order sanctioning ICC officials
Mr Khan (pictured) was banned from entering the United States by President Donald Trump
Israel is not a member of the ICC and the court has no jurisdiction over its territory
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (L) receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest, as Hungary quit the ICC
Germany confirmed it would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he entered the country
