'A constant onslaught' Second woman accuses ICC chief prosecutor of sexual misconduct

A second woman has come forward to an inquiry investigating sexual abuse allegations against Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Guardian has learned.

- Harry Davies Robert Flummerfelt

The woman has alleged that while working for the prominent British lawyer earlier in his career, he behaved inappropriately, subjected her to unwanted sexual advances, abused his authority over her, and repeatedly sought to pressure her into sexual activity.

Khan, who denies sexual misconduct "of any kind", has temporarily stepped aside as head of the ICC's prosecution division as he awaits the outcome of the inquiry into separate abuse allegations brought by a member of his staff at the court.

Launched last year, the inquiry by a UN watchdog received the new allegations from the second woman this summer. Its investigators are understood to have conducted several interviews in order to examine her claims, which date back to 2009.

At the time, the woman was in her 20s and working as an unpaid intern for Khan. He was a leading defence lawyer at the ICC and other war crimes tribunals in The Hague, having notably represented the former Liberian president Charles Taylor.

Speaking exclusively to the Guardian, the woman said Khan had abused his power and influence over her and described his behaviour as a "constant onslaught" of advances. "He shouldn't have been doing it," she said. "He was my employer."

The woman spoke on condition of anonymity as she fears reprisals and adverse consequences for her and her family if publicly identified. She came forward after reading about the more recent allegations made against Khan by the ICC staffer.

The second woman's account of Khan's alleged mistreatment of her contains similarities to the staffer's allegations, details of which have been shared by people familiar with her claims.

Both women have alleged that Khan would ask them to come to work at his home. There, they each allege, he would sit beside them on a couch, touch them, kiss them and try to persuade them to lie down with him.