Who is Sarah? What we know about the Malaysian lawyer at the centre of the Karim Khan case
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
Updated 34 minutes ago · Published on 20 Jul 2026 3:23PM
Yet despite the spotlight, remarkably little is known about her. - July 20, 2026
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
***
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
***
Strong protest: Irresponsible interview attempts to influence ICC member state voting
Is Sarah being used by certain powers to discredit a Prosecutor, or is she using this to gain favour with these powerful nations and advance her own career?
Updated 35 minutes ago · Published on 20 Jul 2026 5:34PM
Friday’s vote will determine whether the ICC can uphold the principles of fairness, independence, and due process that it demands of others. - July 20, 2026
TODAY I listened to Sarah's exclusive interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour pertaining to her allegations against ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan. My thoughts are as follows:
1. The timing exposes a clear intent to sway votes
Sarah’s decision to grant an exclusive CNN interview just one week before the ICC Assembly of States Parties vote is no coincidence. With 125 member states set to decide on Prosecutor Karim Khan’s future, this carefully staged public appearance has one purpose: to bypass proper legal procedures and pressure member states through media manipulation. Anyone who respects the rule of law must firmly reject this tactic.
2. The Independent judicial reviews have already cleared the Prosecutor
The most decisive rebuttal to Sarah’s claims is that three independent legal processes have fully examined her allegations.
- The UN OIOS conducted a thorough investigation.
- The ICC Presidency appointed an independent judicial panel of 3 senior jurists – Seymour Panton (Jamaica), Paul Lemmens (Belgium), and Bess Nkabinde Theron (South Africa). After three months reviewing thousands of pages of evidence, they unanimously concluded that the evidence did not establish misconduct or dereliction of duty.
Sarah’s interview merely recycles old complaints that have already been dismissed.
3. There is a question mark over Sarah’s motives and credibility.
Sarah claims her complaint was unrelated to any foreign government, yet multiple facts point in the opposite direction:
- She urged Khan to take a more cautious approach to warrants against Israel.
- Immediately after Khan issued arrest warrants, the US sanctioned the ICC and threatened that “any action against Israel is an action against you.”
Is Sarah being used by certain powers to discredit a Prosecutor, or is she using this to gain favour with these powerful nations and advance her own career?
4. The ICC Presidency’s conduct is a grave breach of due process
Even more alarming is that after the independent judicial panel delivered a finding of no misconduct, the Presidency did not accept that conclusion – instead, it suspended Khan and referred the matter to the Assembly of States Parties.
This stands in complete opposition to the fundamental principles of the rule of law.
Conclusion
This interview is a blatant attempt to substitute trial by media for due legal process. I strongly call on all member states to reject such media influence and base their judgment on the unanimous findings of the independent judicial panel based on a due process of law.
They should recognise this case for what it is – not a proven misconduct case, but allegations already dismissed by professional judicial bodies, now politically weaponised to serve a specific agenda.
Friday’s vote will determine whether the ICC can uphold the principles of fairness, independence, and due process that it demands of others. - July 20, 2026
Datuk Dr Siva Ananthan
Dr Siva Ananthan is a graduate in Law from the University of London and is 40 years veteran of the legal fraternity, having founded Advance Tertiary College in 1987. He has also served as a Governing Council Member of the ASEAN Law Association, as President of the National Association of Private Educational Institution and as a Director of the Pan Pacific Association for Private Education.
TODAY I listened to Sarah's exclusive interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour pertaining to her allegations against ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan. My thoughts are as follows:
1. The timing exposes a clear intent to sway votes
Sarah’s decision to grant an exclusive CNN interview just one week before the ICC Assembly of States Parties vote is no coincidence. With 125 member states set to decide on Prosecutor Karim Khan’s future, this carefully staged public appearance has one purpose: to bypass proper legal procedures and pressure member states through media manipulation. Anyone who respects the rule of law must firmly reject this tactic.
2. The Independent judicial reviews have already cleared the Prosecutor
The most decisive rebuttal to Sarah’s claims is that three independent legal processes have fully examined her allegations.
- The UN OIOS conducted a thorough investigation.
- The ICC Presidency appointed an independent judicial panel of 3 senior jurists – Seymour Panton (Jamaica), Paul Lemmens (Belgium), and Bess Nkabinde Theron (South Africa). After three months reviewing thousands of pages of evidence, they unanimously concluded that the evidence did not establish misconduct or dereliction of duty.
Sarah’s interview merely recycles old complaints that have already been dismissed.
3. There is a question mark over Sarah’s motives and credibility.
Sarah claims her complaint was unrelated to any foreign government, yet multiple facts point in the opposite direction:
- She urged Khan to take a more cautious approach to warrants against Israel.
- Immediately after Khan issued arrest warrants, the US sanctioned the ICC and threatened that “any action against Israel is an action against you.”
Is Sarah being used by certain powers to discredit a Prosecutor, or is she using this to gain favour with these powerful nations and advance her own career?
4. The ICC Presidency’s conduct is a grave breach of due process
Even more alarming is that after the independent judicial panel delivered a finding of no misconduct, the Presidency did not accept that conclusion – instead, it suspended Khan and referred the matter to the Assembly of States Parties.
This stands in complete opposition to the fundamental principles of the rule of law.
Conclusion
This interview is a blatant attempt to substitute trial by media for due legal process. I strongly call on all member states to reject such media influence and base their judgment on the unanimous findings of the independent judicial panel based on a due process of law.
They should recognise this case for what it is – not a proven misconduct case, but allegations already dismissed by professional judicial bodies, now politically weaponised to serve a specific agenda.
Friday’s vote will determine whether the ICC can uphold the principles of fairness, independence, and due process that it demands of others. - July 20, 2026
Datuk Dr Siva Ananthan
Dr Siva Ananthan is a graduate in Law from the University of London and is 40 years veteran of the legal fraternity, having founded Advance Tertiary College in 1987. He has also served as a Governing Council Member of the ASEAN Law Association, as President of the National Association of Private Educational Institution and as a Director of the Pan Pacific Association for Private Education.
Lina Khan has cleared carried out misconduct, but is being protected by vested interests because she serves their Leftie-Wanker agenda.
ReplyDeletewakakaka… mfer, be a little bit more imaginative lah with yr fart!
DeleteNah, Mamdani, ini kerja Datuk Bandar, cuci Longkang baik2…..
ReplyDelete.Exclusive | City Council Speaker Julie Menin is demanding that Mayor Zohran Mamdani cough up answers on how the deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that has sickened dozens of New Yorkers festered on the Upper East Side.
https://x.com/createcraig/status/2079380272072491464?s=46&t=8K6fzabO3g6uaj4KxwSSjg
Fourth person dies in Upper East Side Legionnaires' outbreak abc7ny.com/post/nyc-legio…
https://x.com/abc7ny/status/2079346311996772700?s=46&t=8K6fzabO3g6uaj4KxwSSjg
Mumdani, it’s better as Mayor you look after your residents. Not play polisman arresting foreign heads of state.
ReplyDeleteManhattan's luxury real estate market suffered one of its weakest weeks in months after Mayor Zohran Mamdani's new pied-à-terre tax (tax on luxury second homes) took effect.
Between July 6 and July 12, only one home priced above $10 million entered contract, compared with the usual 3–5 weekly sales in that price range, according to Olshan Realty.
Overall, 29 Manhattan homes priced at $4 million or more went under contract, but 20 of those were below $6 million, highlighting a sharp slowdown at the very top of the market.
Luxury broker Victoria Shtainer said affluent buyers are becoming increasingly hesitant because of New York's political climate, high taxes, and Mamdani's anti-wealth rhetoric: "The luxury buyer is backing off and thinking twice."
https://x.com/visegrad24/status/2079334536232763580?s=46&t=8K6fzabO3g6uaj4KxwSSjg