Qatar reportedly paid intel firm to discredit woman accusing ICC prosecutor of abuse

A high-level Qatari government office reportedly paid a private intelligence firm to uncover information that would discredit a woman who accused International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan of sexual abuse.

The London-based Highgate firm was also tasked with linking the woman to Israel, although no such information was uncovered, the Guardian reported. Khan issued arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant last year.

Highgate and a smaller firm called Elicius Intelligence did obtain significant private information about Khan’s alleged victim and her family, the Guardian said.

In a statement sent to The Times of Israel, Highgate said that: “Highgate never aimed at discrediting any individual, and we strongly believe that no alleged victim of serious crimes should ever be targeted nor their claims undermined.”

Khan stepped aside in May pending an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct, which he has categorically denied. A United Nations investigation is underway, and Khan has since been accused of retaliating against staff who supported his accuser, including demoting several people he felt were critical of him.

The operation targeting Khan’s accuser began earlier this year, with Highgate executives involved, careful to only refer to their client as “client country” or “Q country,” the Guardian said.

Qatar’s International Media Office issued a statement on Friday blasting the “unfounded allegations” tying Doha to the ICC case.

“These claims are part of a coordinated campaign by certain bad actors to spread disinformation and evade the consequences of their own reprehensible actions by diverting attention onto others,” the statement said.

“As part of these coordinated efforts, falsified information was circulated among several media outlets, most of which declined to publish it upon determining that it lacks factual basis,” The Qatari media office continued.

“This fits into the broader influence campaign that remains ongoing against Qatar for its mediation role, saving lives and securing the release of hostages, its support for international institutions, and upholding international law. Disinformation is commonplace as part of these efforts. Recently, several unfounded lawsuits filed in the United States against Qatar Charity were dismissed after the courts ruled that evidence presented in the cases was fabricated,” it added.

The Guardian said that information obtained by Highgate included the woman’s passport details, passwords she used for online accounts, and a private email address apparently obtained through the dark web. Highgate also sought information on the flights she took as well as the birth certificate of her young child.

Highgate staffers also met with Khan’s representatives, people familiar with the matter told the Guardian.

In a statement to the Guardian, Highgate confirmed having led an operation related to the ICC but insisted that it had not “acted against any individual” and denied having been commissioned by the “government of Qatar.”

The Highgate statement called the Guardian’s claim that it sought information on the woman’s child “inaccurate.”

“Highgate led an independent assessment into potential covert or improper activities that may have sought to undermine the credibility, independence, or efficiency of the ICC,” it said. “The review has considered several incidents involving multiple individuals over an extended period.”

Highgate did not deny meeting Khan’s representatives, but described such information as “private, commercially sensitive and confidential.”

Khan’s lawyers also did not deny that such a meeting took place but said his representatives had “no knowledge of, let alone involvement in, the alleged activities” of Highgate.

Elicius Intelligence declined to comment.

In August, the Guardian reported that a second woman had come forward to accuse Khan of sexual misconduct.

In April, it was reported that United Nations investigators examining the allegations of sexual misconduct were also looking into charges that Khan retaliated against staff who reported such allegations or were critical of his handling of the matter.

Khan’s associates have tried to paint the initial allegations as a pro-Israel smear campaign.

Pro-Israeli interests “may have exploited the story but they didn’t create the story,” an ICC source — one of five who rejected the Israeli-plot thesis — told the newspaper.

On November 24, 2024, the ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on suspicion of ordering war crimes during Israel’s campaign against the Hamas terror group in Gaza, following the October 7, 2023, invasion, massacres and hostage-takings in southern Israel.

Jerusalem denies the allegations, asserting that its war, whose aims are to return the hostages, defeat Hamas and prevent a future threat from Gaza, is fought in accordance with international law.

ICC warrants were also issued against three Hamas leaders, all of whom have since been killed by Israel.