ICC Prosecutor's Accuser Targeted in Covert Intelligence Operation
The woman who accused International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan of sexual abuse has become the target of a sophisticated private intelligence operation with alleged links to the Qatari government, The Guardian can exclusively reveal.
According to leaked documents and sources familiar with the operation, two British private intelligence firms conducted intrusive surveillance on the ICC staffer and her family members, seeking sensitive personal information that could be used to undermine her credibility.
The Covert Operation Uncovered
The intelligence gathering was led by Highgate, a discreet London-based strategic advisory firm operating from the city's exclusive Mayfair district. Working alongside at least one other company, Elicius Intelligence, the operation sought to establish connections between the woman and Israel.
Documents reviewed by The Guardian show that the firms obtained the woman's passport details, sought information about flights she had taken, and even attempted to acquire her young child's birth certificate. The intelligence reports included sensitive information about family members, former relationships, and financial situations.
People familiar with the operation confirmed that senior Highgate employees were aware the ultimate client was a high-level diplomatic unit within the Qatari state. Internal communications referred to the client using coded terms such as "client country" or "Q country."
Geopolitical Context and Denials
The targeting of Khan's accuser comes amid significant geopolitical tensions surrounding the ICC prosecutor. In 2024, Khan made the controversial decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes in Gaza.
Khan has denied the sexual abuse allegations, with people close to him suggesting the claims represent an Israel-backed smear campaign. However, The Guardian's investigation found no evidence linking the women making allegations to any plot against the prosecutor.
In a statement to The Guardian, Highgate confirmed working on an ICC-related operation but denied acting against any individual or being commissioned by the "government of Qatar." The company described its work as "an independent assessment into potential covert or improper activities that may have sought to undermine the credibility, independence, or efficiency of the ICC."
Victim's Response and Ongoing Investigation
The woman at the centre of the allegations expressed her horror at discovering she had been targeted by private intelligence firms. "The idea that private intelligence firms have been instructed to target me is as incomprehensible as it is heartbreaking," she told The Guardian.
"Where does this end and how much will be allowed? If this is what international justice looks like, it is not the system that I have dedicated my life to serving," she added, noting that she had always preferred to work "quietly and under the radar."
The UN investigation into Khan's conduct continues, with the prosecutor having stepped aside pending its outcome. A second woman has since come forward with allegations of mistreatment while working as an unpaid intern for Khan earlier in his career.
Khan's lawyers did not dispute that Highgate met with the prosecutor's representatives but stated they had "no knowledge of, let alone involvement in, the alleged activities" of the private intelligence firms.
The revelation of the Qatar-linked intelligence operation represents the latest development in a scandal that has plunged the International Criminal Court into unprecedented crisis and raised serious questions about the integrity of international justice institutions.
