SWEDEN DROPS RAPE INVESTIGATION AGAINST WIKILEAKS’ ASSANGE
STOCKHOLM/LONDON: Sweden on Friday dropped its probe into a rape allegation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, almost seven years after it began and five years after he sought refuge at Ecuador’s London embassy.
Assange’s Swedish lawyer Per E Samuelson said this was a “total victory” for him. He added Assange was “now free to leave the embassy when he wants”.
In a tweet, Assange said, “Detained for 7 years without charge... while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget.”
However, British sources said Assange will be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy.
Scotland Yard said: “Westminster Magistrates’ Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy.
“The priority for the MPS must continue to be arresting those who are currently wanted in the Capital in connection with serious violent or sexual offences for the protection of Londoners.”
The probe began after two women accused Assange of sexual offences during a 2010 visit to Stockholm.
Sweden asked Britain to extradite him for questioning, and he sought refuge in Ecuador’s London embassy in June 2012 to avoid arrest.
After that, the investigation stalled. Swedish prosecutors dropped cases of alleged sexual misconduct when the statute of limitations ran out in 2015, leaving only the rape allegation.
Marianne Ny, the Swedish director of public prosecutions, announced she was dropping the rape case because there is no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden “in the foreseeable future”.
She also said it is “no longer proportionate” to maintain the European arrest warrant.