Efforts to keep Julian Assange from being extradited to Sweden has turned into a battle between two prosecutors. Swedish prosecutor, Marianne Ny issued an Interpol arrest warrant for Assange for questioning and has refused to travel to England or use video for interrogation.
Supporters for the WikiLeaks founder believe the allegations are politically motivated.
A former chief prosecutor in Sweden has criticised his country’s handling of the case against Julian Assange, founder of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.
Sven-Erik Alhem, appearing at the second day of a hearing in London to decide whether Assange should be extradited to Sweden, said it was “quite peculiar” that investigators in his country did not obtain Assange’s version of events before issuing an arrest warrant.
The 39-year-old Australian was arrested in London last December, for questioning over allegations of sexual misconduct against two women.
Alhem, testifying for the defense, may not have helped Assange’s case when, under questioning, he admitted is own course of action would be to return to Sweden to clear things up. Assange, has stated publicly that he believes the US will try to extradite him from Sweden to face as yet unknown charges for releasing classified information.
Meanwhile, Ny defends her handling of the Assange case and denies any pressure from US authorities who are anxious to stop Wikileaks from releasing classified data.
Swedish prosecutors had no choice but to issue an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after repeatedly failing to pin down the elusive Australian for an interview about sex crimes allegations, a lawyer for the Swedish government said yesterday.
Assange is fighting extradition to Sweden, where his lawyers say he is the victim of a flawed investigation conducted in the media spotlight and will not get a fair trial. He has not been charged in the case and denies all wrongdoing.
The magistrate hearing the case is expected to reserve judgment until later this month.
