Julian Assange rape investigation reopened by Swedish prosecutors

Katy Clifton13 May 2019

A Swedish prosecutor has announced she will re-open a preliminary investigation into a rape allegation against WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange.

Eva-Marie Persson, Sweden’s deputy director of public prosecutions, announced her decision at a press conference in Stockholm after the alleged victim's lawyer asked for the inquiry to be reopened.

Ms Persson said: "The prosecutor will shortly request that Julian Assange be detained in his absence suspected on probable cause for an allegation of rape from August 2010.

"To be able to execute a detention order, the prosecutor will issue a European Arrest Warrant. An application for a detention order will be submitted to Uppsala District Court, as the suspected crime took place in Enkoping municipality.

"On account of Julian Assange leaving the Ecuadorian embassy, the circumstances in this case have changed. I take the view that there exists the possibility to take the case forward.

"Julian Assange has been convicted of a crime in the UK and will serve 25 weeks of his sentence before he can be released, according to information from UK authorities."

WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange
AFP/Getty Images

She added: "I am well aware of the fact that an extradition process is ongoing in the UK and that he could be extradited to the US.

"In the event of a conflict between a European Arrest Warrant and a request for extradition from the US, UK authorities will decide on the order of priority. The outcome of this process is impossible to predict.

"However, in my view the Swedish case can proceed concurrently with the proceedings in the UK. Reopening the investigation means that a number of investigative measures will take place.

"In my opinion a new interview with the suspect is required. It may be necessary, with the support of a European Investigation Order, to request an interview with Julian Assange be held in the UK. Such an interview, however, requires Julian Assange's consent."

Nick Vamos, lawyer and former head of extradition at Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, said that he expected a Swedish request would take supremacy.

Julian Assange on his arrival at Westminster Magistrates court on April 11
Jack Taylor/Getty Images

Responding to the announcement, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said the reopened investigation will give Assange a chance to clear his name.

"Since Julian Assange was arrested on 11 April 2019, there has been considerable political pressure on Sweden to reopen their investigation, but there has always been political pressure surrounding this case," he said in a statement.

"Its reopening will give Julian a chance to clear his name.”

Assange's lawyer Per E Samuelson told Swedish TV the decision to reopen the investigation is "an embarrassment".

"I'm surprised. It's embarrassing for Sweden to reopen the investigation," he said.

"He has always wanted to help solve this Swedish issue, his big predicament in life is that he risks being extradited to the United States because of his journalistic work."

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
AFP/Getty Images

Prosecutors filed preliminary charges against Assange after he was accused of rape and other sexual offences in 2010, which he has always denied. The statute of limitations on the rape allegation expires in August 2020.

The 47-year-old avoided extradition to Sweden over the allegations after seeking political asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, which he entered in 2012.

Prosecutors dropped a case of alleged sexual misconduct in 2015 when the statute of limitations had passed.

The rape inquiry was dropped two years later because investigators felt unable to progress the case while Assange was living in the embassy.

However, last month Assange was dramatically dragged out of the building by police after Ecuador abruptly withdrew the asylum from him.

He was subsequently arrested for failing to surrender to the court and was later sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching his bail conditions.

The US also wants to extradite Assange from the UK over his alleged role in the release of classified military and diplomatic material in 2010.

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