THE HAGUE – Bumoto ang member states ng International Criminal Court para alisin si prosecutor Karim Khan dahil sa serious misconduct, ayon sa ICC nitong Biyernes, Hulyo 24.
“The assembly decided by a majority of 82 states parties that the elected official, prosecutor, Karim Khan, committed serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty … and to remove … Karim Khan from office,” sinabi ng pangulo ng governing body na si Paivi Kaukoranta.
Itinanggi naman ni Khan ang anumang maling gawain.
“Mr. Khan will challenge the lawfulness and fairness of the decision through all available legal mechanisms,” sinabi ng abogado nitong si
Tayab Ali.
Ang dismissal ni Khan ay agad na nag-ugat sa electrion process para sa bagong ICC prosecutor.
“Members of the court acted swiftly and decisively to remove an embattled and discredited official so that the court can move forward with its important work in all the situations on its docket,” ayon kay Leila Sadat, professor ng international criminal law sa Washington University.
Ang dismissal ni Khan ay kasunod ng anunsyo ng Estados Unidos na maglulunsad ito ng diplomatic campaign para buwagin ang ICC na nagsabing banta umano ito sa kanilang soberanya.
Tinanggap naman ni State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott ang pag-alis kay Khan ngunit sinabi na, “he is only one small cog in this irredeemably corrupt institution. Today’s outcome will have no impact on the United States’ plans to dismantle the ICC.”
Ang US, na hindi miyembro ng ICC, ay nagpataw ng sanctions sa 11 ICC judges at prosecutors kabilang si Khan, at tinukoy ang arrest warrants ng ICC laban kay Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at dating defense minister Yoav Gallant. RNT/JGC
