The executive body of the International Criminal Court decided on Monday to suspend Karim Khan, the ICC chief prosecutor, disregarding a judicial panel's opinion that found no evidence of misconduct against him.

According to an official press release published late on Monday, a qualified majority of the 21-member bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) decided to suspend the prosecutor “with immediate effect” pending the final decision of the ASP as the competent decision-maker on the matter.

The decision was made under rule 28 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, which indicates that a two-thirds majority of bureau members present and voting recommended a finding of “serious misconduct”, paving the way for a vote at the larger ASP which first needs to uphold the decision, then vote on whether to remove the prosecutor.