{"text":[[{"start":8.45,"text":"The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has been formally suspended amid an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct."}],[{"start":17.35,"text":"The ICC said in a statement on Monday night that a panel of representatives from the court had decided to suspend Karim Khan “with immediate effect” ahead of a final decision on his position. The group said the decision was “not an indication of the final outcome”."}],[{"start":33.05,"text":"The panel — made up of 21 member states responsible for oversight of the court — said the step had been taken based on the report of an investigation undertaken by a UN body."}],[{"start":44.349999999999994,"text":"The situation has come at a difficult time for the ICC. The court has faced criticism over Khan’s decision in 2024 to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-defence minister Yoav Gallant for “crimes against humanity and war crimes” in Gaza."}],[{"start":62.449999999999996,"text":"Khan rejected the decision in a statement from his lawyer on Tuesday and said it was ‘‘unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence”. Khan ‘‘has consistently and unequivocally denied any wrongdoing”, the statement said. "}],[{"start":77.25,"text":"The panel has referred the matter for a final decision about Khan’s position to the 125 member states of the ICC. The group said that it had asked for the states to meet “as soon as possible”."}],[{"start":88.3,"text":"The group, known as the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties, has also looked at the advice of an ad hoc panel of judicial experts, as well as other evidence handed to the court."}],[{"start":98.95,"text":"“The decision of the Bureau and the related documentation will remain confidential. The Bureau continues to call for due respect for the privacy and the rights of all parties concerned, as well as for the integrity of the ongoing process,” the ICC said in a statement. "}],[{"start":114.45,"text":"The move comes after Khan took a leave of absence from the court in May 2025 while the allegations, which relate to a woman who worked at the ICC, were investigated."}],[{"start":124.05,"text":"The alleged behaviour had initially been reported to the Independent Oversight Mechanism — the body responsible for overseeing the court — in May 2024. However, the complaint was made by a third party and the affected individual refused to confirm or deny the allegations, so the matter was initially dropped, the IOM said in October 2024."}],[{"start":144.35,"text":"The investigation was then referred to the UN for an independent review. However, it has been mired in controversy, with Khan claiming in an April interview that he had been “exonerated”."}],[{"start":157.1,"text":"President Donald Trump’s administration has placed several ICC judges under US sanctions, along with Khan, claiming that the court is a threat to Americans and Israelis."}],[{"start":167.04999999999998,"text":"The prosecutor’s office has been run by Khan’s deputies in his absence."}],[{"start":180.65,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1780996681_9785.mp3"}