The International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor has temporarily stepped aside until a sexual misconduct probe against him is ended.
Karim Khan will take leave until the end of the external investigation, which started late last year, and his deputy prosecutors will manage the office in his absence, the ICC said in a statement.
Media reports previously cited a document outlining accusations against Mr Khan, understood to encompass unwanted sexual touching and “abuse”.
His lawyers made known, he had no intention of stepping down, as Mr Khan has denied the allegations, which were reported to the court’s governing body in October.
Some Staff members of the ICC alongside several organisations had previously called for Mr Khan to step down during the investigation.
When the external investigation – led by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services – will conclude is unknown.
