After four years and £12m police bill, Assange to f inally be quizzed over rape claim
JULIAN Assange is to finally be interviewed by Swedish authorities over claims he raped a woman in 2010.
Investigators will travel to the Ecuadorian embassy in London on Monday to speak to the Wikileaks founder.
Chief prosecutor Ingrid Isgren, will be joined by an assistant prosecutor and a Swedish police investigator.
A DNA sample will be taken if Mr Assange, 45, consents and the interview will influence the decision over whether the Swedish inquiry will continue.
The unusual move could help break the deadlock over Britain’s most expensive and unwelcome house guest.
Assange has been holed up inside the cramped Knightsbridge embassy since June 2012 in a bid to avoid a European arrest warrant to extradite him to Sweden.
The Australian has since cost taxpayers more than £12million as police spent three years guarding the building around the clock. But even after the vigil ended Mr Assange has remained inside – claiming that he fears American authorities would try to extradite him to the US if he left.
The outspoken hacker says he believes the Swedish inquiry could lead to him facing prosecution on the other side of the Atlantic over leaked documents.
The military source who leaked diplomatic cables to Wikileaks has already been jailed for 35 years without parole. The publication of hundreds of thousands of sensitive documents caused an international sensation.
Despite his refusal to leave the Ecuadorian embassy, Assange claimed through his lawyer that he had been trying to speak to Swedish investigators since the allegations were made. Per Samuelsson said: ‘We have requested this interview repeatedly since 2010. Julian Assange has always wanted to tell his version to the Swedish police.
‘He wants a chance to clear his name. We hope the investigation will be closed then.’
Assange had been attending a seminar in Stockholm six years ago when he found himself facing charges of rape and sexual molestation. He denies the alleged sex crimes but does not dispute that he had sex with the two women within four days.
Earlier this year a Swedish district court maintained a European arrest warrant against Assange, rejecting his lawyers’ request to have it lifted. Some of the lesser charges have fallen away because of a stat-
‘We’ve requested this interview repeatedly’
ute of limitations, but the allegation of rape will remain until 2020.
There have been suggestions from the Ecuadorian authorities that they are not happy with the stalemate – but they have refused to kick him out. Assange has compared living in the embassy, which has no garden and few windows, to life on a space station.
His small room is divided into an office and a living area. He has a treadmill, shower, microwave and sun lamp, spending most of the day at his computer.
Last month embassy officials cut his access to the internet in protest at Wikileaks disclosures they said could influence the US presidential election. Assange was also refused permission to attend the funeral of his close friend and mentor, journalist Gavin MacFadyen.
In a statement the Swedish Prosecution Authority said: ‘After this report, the prosecutors will take a view on the continuation of the investigation.’