FOR months, she was known only as an anonymous International Criminal Court (ICC) staff member whose allegations against former chief prosecutor Karim Khan sent shockwaves through the world’s top war crimes court.
Now, after choosing to speak publicly for the first time, the woman known only as Sarah has become one of the most closely watched figures in an unfolding case that has drawn global attention.
Yet despite the spotlight, remarkably little is known about her.
Sarah has identified herself only by her first name. International media organisations have continued to withhold her full identity, citing privacy concerns as investigations and proceedings linked to the case continue.
What has emerged is that Sarah is a 39-year-old Malaysian lawyer who had been serving at the ICC before joining Khan’s office as his special assistant. The role placed her among the prosecutor’s closest aides, accompanying him on official overseas missions and high-level engagements.
She has described herself as a practising Muslim and said she underwent extensive security vetting before being entrusted with one of the court’s most sensitive positions.
Sarah’s allegations first surfaced in 2024, but she remained out of public view until recently, when she gave her first televised interview explaining why she decided to come forward.
In the interview, she alleged that Khan’s behaviour escalated over time before culminating in sexual assault during an official overseas trip. Khan has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining there was never a sexual relationship between them, consensual or otherwise.
Sarah also pushed back against claims circulating online that she was acting on behalf of any foreign intelligence agency or political interests, saying such accusations ignored the rigorous background checks required for staff working directly with the ICC prosecutor.
The case has since evolved into one of the biggest crises in the ICC’s history.
Khan has been suspended following an internal investigation, although he continues to deny wrongdoing and has argued that the process against him has been unfair.
For now, Sarah remains a largely private figure. Apart from her age, nationality, profession and role at the ICC, few personal details have been disclosed publicly. – July 20, 2026
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