A second woman has accused International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan KC of sexual misconduct.
Khan, who successfully sought to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year, is already the subject of an investigation into a prior claim of sexual misconduct by a staff member at the ICC and is currently on leave.
But another woman has spoken to The Guardian, alleging that, while she worked for Khan several years ago, he behaved inappropriately and subjected her to unwanted sexual advances. She went on to claim that he abused his position of authority and repeatedly pressured her into engaging in sexual activity. Her claims date back to 2009.
The alleged victim claimed she received a “constant onslaught” of advances by Khan. “He shouldn’t have been doing it. He was my employer," she told the paper.
She said that she made the decision to come forward after the initial complaint against Khan was reported.
The new claims echo those of the first alleged victim, with both saying that Khan would ask them to work from his house. Whilst there, he would allegedly sit next to them on the sofa, touch them and try to lie down with them.
Khan, via his lawyers, has denied all the allegations, saying: "It is wholly untrue that he has engaged in sexual misconduct of any kind.”
The statement also denied that he "harassed or mistreated any individual… misused his position or authority, or engaged in any conduct that could be interpreted as coercive, exploitative, or professionally inappropriate”.
While Khan has immunity from prosecution in relation to his professional activity, he can be charged and prosecuted in a personal capacity (should the investigation find evidence of sexual misconduct) in the countries where the alleged offences occurred.
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