THE HAGUE (Reuters) — Diplomats running the International Criminal Court’s oversight body have decided that chief prosecutor Karim Khan had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior staff member and should be fired, two copies of its decision show, according to a Wednesday report by Reuters.

It is the first time details of the decision on accusations of misconduct brought by a female lawyer in 2024 against Khan, a 56-year-old British barrister, have been reported, including the recommendation that he be dismissed.

The decision by the executive bureau of the ICC’s governing body will inform a vote on his fate by the ICC’s 125-member Assembly of States Parties in New York on July 24. It is unclear which way the vote will go.

Khan has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

“The decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence,” his lawyers said in comments sent to Reuters on Tuesday. They cited a review by judges that found the evidence was insufficient to prove the allegations “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The bureau set aside the advisory opinion by the three external judges and concluded that it did have enough evidence to make a decision, citing the report of a specialized yearlong UN investigation commissioned by the court.

“The evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that the prosecutor… engaged in a sexual relationship with [the victim],” a copy of the June 8 decision reviewed by Reuters said.

The relationship started in March 2023 and “escalated over time…........

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