Ruling leaves Assange a wanted man in UK

A UK arrest warrant against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been ruled still valid even though an investigation against him by the Swedish authorities has ended.

Judge Emma Arbuthnot yesterday rejected a call from Mr Assange’s lawyers for the warrant to be revoked because he is no longer wanted for questioning in Sweden over alleged sex crimes.

It was issued in 2012 for 0 Julian Assange: Living in the Ecuadorian embassy jumping bail.

The ruling means Mr Assange remains a wanted man in the country where he has spent more than five years inside the Ecuadorean embassy.

“I am not persuaded the warrant should be withdrawn,” Ms Arbuthnot told lawyers, journalists and Assange supporters gathered at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Assange, 46, has been holed up in Ecuador’s embassy in London since he took refuge there in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden.

He last night claimed a package containing a “threat” and white substance was sent to him at the embassy’s Hans Crescent address.

The item, which has been deemed “non-suspicious” by police, was addressed to Mr Assange, he said in a tweet.

Ms Arbuthnot said in her ruling “the administration of justice can be undermined by defendants who fail to attend” court while free on bail.

“Mr Assange is not present in court today,” she noted.

Had the judge ruled in Mr Assange’s favour, he would have been free to leave the embassy without being arrested on the British warrant.