The court confirmed that the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, will take leave until an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct leads to a conclusion.

ICC Prosecution Division staff were told Friday that Khan would resign temporarily until an external investigation into the allegations against him was completed and court authorities could consider its findings.

The Hague-based court said in a statement that Khan “communicated his decision until it was over.” The statement said that when Khan took leave, the deputy prosecutor of the court would be responsible for managing the prosecutor's office.

Khan is a British lawyer and many of his employees have faced opposition in recent months as he decided to reject the appeals of some of his senior staff in order to take leave until the investigation is resolved.

"In view of the escalating media coverage, I made a decision to ask for leave until the investigation was completed," Khan said in an email to the staff members seen by the guardian. He said two of his deputy prosecutors would take over his responsibilities.

Khan's decision comes after pressure from high court officials earlier this week urged him to resign after posting new details about the allegations in the media over the weekend, ICC sources said.

Investigators conducted by UN regulators met Khan for the first time last week and interviewed him within two days.

The investigation was announced in November after he filed charges against the treatment of a woman who worked for him. The Guardian reported that the allegations included prolonged sexual contact and “abuse”, as well as mandatory behavior and abuse of authority.

Khan, 55, had previously said he "denied all charges" and said he would cooperate with the investigation.

The investigation was conducted by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and is expected to report to the presidential body of the court in the coming months.

It also looked at the Khan's claims of witness intimidation and retaliation against members of his staff, according to sources familiar with the reference clauses of the investigation.

Khan was elected for a nine-year term in 2021 as the chief prosecutor of the last resort court, which investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of atrocities, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.