Alleged victim of sexual misconduct by ICC prosecutor Khan speaks publicly for first time

Malaysian attorney known as Sarah informed CNN that the reported misconduct continued beyond a year after she began serving as Khan's assistant in February 2023.

ByGOLDIE KATZ

JULY 18, 2026 02:36

As the International Criminal Court prepares to decide the future of its chief prosecutor Karim Khan amid claims of sexual misconduct, one alleged victim addressed the matter publicly for the first time in a CNN interview on Thursday.

A Malaysian lawyer referred to only as Sarah, employed at the ICC since 2017, described to CNN how the reported misconduct extended for more than a year after she started as Khan's assistant in February 2023.

CNN reported obtaining a leaked United Nations investigative document on the claims against Khan, in which Sarah described repeated sexual harassment by Khan, including non-consensual acts such as groping, kissing, and penetration.

During the interview Sarah said she never sought this situation and felt humiliated by what she described as growing efforts at sexual contact and breaches of personal limits by Khan.

Sarah explained that she sometimes froze and hesitated to refuse Khan's advances due to concerns about possible career harm and effects on her work visa that permitted her to reside in the Netherlands with her husband and son.

"There is no way for something to be consensual when you have such a power disparity," she told CNN. "What I think many people do not understand is that Mr. Khan was not just my boss, he was everyone's boss."

Sarah noted that even initial contacts with Khan left her uneasy. Khan reportedly advanced to more direct behavior, such as entering her hotel room late at night and touching her after urging her to join him for a nap.

CNN indicated the UN report identified a factual basis for the claims supported by accounts from Sarah, her colleagues, and witnesses to the alleged incidents.

The report outlined additional assertions that Khan attempted non-consensual sexual contact with Sarah in his office, his residence, and during work-related travel.

Sarah also claimed that after coworkers raised worries about her condition, she shared details of the alleged conduct with them and then encountered pressure from Khan and another ICC staff member to issue a retraction letter.

Khan rejects claims of sexual misconduct

Khan has consistently rejected the accusations and was placed on suspension in June following extended inquiries into the matter.

Khan earlier denied any relationship with Sarah, reportedly stating to UN investigators that he completely rejected any involvement in harassment, abuse of authority, or inappropriate conduct.

Sarah rejects notion her claims stem from alleged Israeli campaign against Khan

Following the initial emergence of accusations against Khan, some suggested Sarah's claims formed part of an Israeli effort to undermine Khan, who was pursuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Sarah denied acting as a state agent and, per the UN report, multiple credible witnesses rejected the idea that she served as a spy. One ICC employee reportedly described the accusations against her as unfounded.

Sarah pointed out that ICC employment requires security clearance checks, telling CNN that any indication of state agent status would have led to her dismissal.

"I think many parties have, for their own agenda, conflated the two things," she told CNN. "That conflation has only helped to distract and deflect from the validity of that complaint."