Dutch security probe claims UK spy firms surveilled International Criminal Court staff

A Dutch government security agency claims UK spy firms gathered information on International Criminal Court (ICC) staff and their families. The main target was a lawyer who had filed a sexual abuse complaint against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan. Khan denies any wrongdoing.

NL Times, a Dutch outlet, wrote on 12 May:

The Dutch National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security investigated a secret intelligence operation in which two private intelligence bureaus based in London collected sensitive personal information for months on employees of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, their children, and other family members.

The paper claimed:

The main target was a 38-year-old lawyer at the International Criminal Court who filed a sexual abuse complaint against British prosecutor Karim Khan in spring 2024. Khan, who was then the court’s chief prosecutor, stepped down in May 2025 and remains on leave pending the outcome of the misconduct inquiry.

Adding:

Other court employees targeted in the operation were linked to those same allegations against Khan or to the handling of the case, according to documents and recordings reviewed by NRC as part of the Dutch inquiry.

NL Times mentioned that two UK firms alleged to have spied on ICC staff and their families. One is Highgate, based in London’s Mayfair.

The firm describes itself as:

a strategic advisory firm expert in dispute resolution and special situations.

And claims it has an “international team”:

drawn from the best talent in intelligence, law, government, finance, media and the military.

The other spy firm is not named by NL Times.

NL Times said:

Private detectives reportedly sought information that could suggest a cover-up or connections to Israel or its intelligence service, the Mossad. The operation came more than a year after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The website said the Dutch agency has spoken to “several ICC employees” about the spy firm’s activity:

In a confidential letter to the court, seen by the newspaper, the agency said it had forwarded information from those discussions to Dutch intelligence services and police.

Police are reportedly investigating for potential criminal offences:

The agency declined to comment to the NRC on the outcome or status of the probe, and police would not answer questions.

NL Times claimed:

The Guardian reported in November 2025 that the purpose of the operation was to collect information that could be used to undermine the sexual abuse complaint filed by the alleged victim. Documents and recordings reviewed during the Dutch investigation show the private detectives specifically searched for evidence of a possible cover-up or any links to Israel or its intelligence service, the Mossad.

And that:

a diplomatic unit within the Qatari state paid for the operation.

The Qatari’s have denied involvement in this latest chapter of a story which has gone on for two years. Karim Khan strenuously denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers said any suggestion he had been involved in the operation was “completely incorrect”. Khan was part of the ICC tribunal which issued an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu.

Featured image via NL Times