Sweden drops Assange rape investigation – prosecution authority

19 Nov, 2019 13:08 / Updated 2 minutes ago

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FILE PHOTO WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a police van, after he was arrested by British police, in London, Britain April 11, 2019. © REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

The Prosecutiond credible, oral testimony regarding the case had “weakened” and that corroborating evidence was not strong enough to pursue the case.

It was determined that the evidence was simply not strong enough to file an indictment, and that interviewing Julian Assange regarding the case would not change this assessment.

The Swedish Prosecution Authority made the announcement during a press conference in Stockholm on Tuesday.

Assange is currently being held in a UK prison and is in the middle of a court battle to avoid extradition to the United States. Swedish authorities reopened the rape investigation following his arrest at the Ecuadorian Embassy last April.

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The Prosecution Authority said that its decision could be appealed. Announcing the decision, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson told members of the press that “time” had played a significant role in discontinuing the sexual assault probe.

Maddy Savage

✔@maddysavage

No apology from Swedish Prosecution service over fact #JulianAssange case has been going on for 9 years. Current lead Eva-Marie Persson says she can only take responsibility for her work over past 6 months. She has confirmed they did not interview Assange again during this time.

2

7:01 PM - Nov 19, 2019

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Commentators speculated that by dropping the charges, Sweden may actually be paving the way for Assange's extradition to the United States.

Peter Sunde Kolmisoppi

✔@brokep

By dropping the charges against Julian #Assange, Sweden ironically removes another way to stop an extradition to the US for him. Sweden can't extradite him there, and the charges against him was probably a hindrance for the UK to just extradite him. https://twitter.com/avilarenata/status/1196777475218530304 …

Renata Avila

✔@avilarenata

URGENTE #Suecia cierra definitivamente el caso contra el fundador de @wikileaks Julian #Assange.

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6:42 PM - Nov 19, 2019

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The Australian journalist has repeatedly denied the allegation against him, which were first made in 2010.