{"text":[[{"start":9.8,"text":"International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan has taken leave from his role until a probe into a misconduct allegation against him is concluded, according to the court."}],[{"start":22.130000000000003,"text":"The decision comes amid mounting pressure on Khan after the misconduct claim came to light in October last year and as the prosecutor became embroiled in geopolitical tension over his decision to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders."}],[{"start":41.93000000000001,"text":"The ICC said on Friday that “the prosecutor communicated his decision to take leave until the end of the OIOS (UN Office of Internal Oversight Services) process”."}],[{"start":55.88000000000001,"text":"Khan said last year that there was “no truth” to the allegation and that he and the court had been “subject to a wide range of attacks and threats” in the wake of the Israel warrants."}],[{"start":69.78000000000002,"text":"A lawyer for Khan said he “continues to deny categorically any allegations of misconduct, and he will continue to co-operate with the investigation”."}],[{"start":80.46000000000001,"text":"The alleged behaviour had been reported to the Independent Oversight Mechanism — the body responsible for overseeing the court — in May 2024."}],[{"start":91.35000000000001,"text":"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 last year."}],[{"start":105.30000000000001,"text":"Media coverage surrounding the allegations has stepped up in recent weeks. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that a female aide to Khan had testified to UN investigators in relation to a number of allegations against him."}],[{"start":121.55000000000001,"text":"Khan’s lawyer said “wildly inaccurate and speculative media focus on the matter” detracted from Khan’s ability to focus on his job."}],[{"start":132.23000000000002,"text":"The court said that deputy prosecutors would be in charge of the management of the office during Khan’s absence."}],[{"start":139.67000000000002,"text":"Beyond the misconduct claims, the British lawyer’s decision to pursue the arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the war in Gaza has sparked a wider backlash. It was the first time that The Hague court had pursued the leader of a western-backed state."}],[{"start":161.12,"text":"He also applied for warrants against senior Hamas leaders, all of whom are believed to have been killed."}],[{"start":169.35,"text":"In February, US President Donald Trump issued sanctions against Khan for “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”."}],[{"start":191.84,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftmailbox.cn/album/a_1747611890_4429.mp3"}