Wikileaks' Julian Assange remains locked up until Swedish appeal
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Latest in Crime
On Facebook
From the blogs
The ugly face of TV: How Jeremy Clarkson brought facial prejudice to a head
If you saw someone with a facial disfigurement walking down the street, would you A) Laugh at them B...
Atlantic Odyssey: Exclusive first hand account of how a world record attempt ended in near disaster
Writing exclusively for The Independent, Mark Beaumont recounts the incredible events that saw an at...
Stacking shelves won’t help career progression
Over the last week, we have seen a series of dodgy manoeuvres by the government regarding unpaid ret...
Is catastrophic global warming, like the Millenium Bug, a mistake?
"The whole idea of climate being one number driven by another number is nutty." Prof Richard Lindzen...
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remains in custody tonight after Swedish prosecutors appealed against a decision to grant him bail.
The 39-year-old Australian is wanted in Sweden over claims he sexually assaulted two women.
At an extradition hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court this afternoon, a judge granted him conditional bail - only for him to be told two hours later that he must remain behind bars pending the appeal, which must be heard within the next 48 hours.
Speaking outside the court, solicitor Mark Stephens said: "Finally, after two hours we have heard that the Swedes will not abide with the umpire's decision and they want to put Mr Assange through yet more trouble, more expense and more hurdles.
"They clearly will not spare any expense to keep Mr Assange in jail. This is really turning into a show trial.
"We will be in court again in the next 48 hours. But they have not given us the courtesy of telling us when we will be in court."
Asked how Assange reacted to the news, Mr Stephens added: "He is phlegmatic."
Assange was first remanded in custody a week ago but his legal team made a successful appeal against the decision today, with several well-known backers again offering thousands of pounds in sureties.
District Judge Howard Riddle granted him bail on condition he provide a security of £200,000 to the court and guarantee two sureties, each of £20,000.
He told him his passport would have to remain with the police, he could not apply for international travel, must abide by a curfew and stay at Ellingham Hall near Bungay in Suffolk, a 10-bedroom estate surrounded by 600 acres of grounds.
The estate is owned by Captain Vaughan Smith, who served in the British Army before setting up the Frontline Club in Paddington, London, in 2003.
Cpt Smith said: "I have met Mr Assange very frequently over the last five months or so.
"The Julian Assange I know has a number of qualities: he's a very honourable person, hugely courageous, self-deprecatory - none of the things you read about."
Assange, who appeared in the dock in a black suit and white shirt, was also told he would be tagged and must report to a local police station every evening.
He waved to his lawyer as he entered the packed court room and spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address in Victoria, Australia.
On hearing later that he must await the prosecution's appeal in prison, he said: "I understand."
Lawyer Gemma Lindfield, on behalf of the Swedish authorities, reminded the court during the hearing it had "already found that Mr Assange is a flight risk".
She said: "It's submitted that nothing has changed since last week to allay the court's fears in this regard."
But Judge Riddle disagreed, saying that two matters had changed since he made his decision to remand Assange in custody last Tuesday.
Firstly, the former hacker's address had not been verified by the police when he appeared in the dock last week, whereas the matter of his residence had "now been dealt with completely and entirely to my satisfaction", he said.
Secondly, a question mark hung last week over his entry into the country, with Ms Lindfield saying there was no trace of him coming into the UK.
But the judge said this matter had also been cleared up now and no longer troubled him.
- 1 How an A-grade prank by a hacker closed a school for a day
- 2 Gallery: Rio Carnival in full swing
- 3 Bonus row as RBS losses hit £2bn
- 4 Mitt Romney pounces on Rick Santorum in TV debate
- 5 Journalists killed in Syria rocket strike 'were targeted'
- 6 Top Tory attacks PM for Rupert Murdoch 'cronyism'
- 7 Prosecutor tells Mubarak he faces death by hanging
- 1 How an A-grade prank by a hacker closed a school for a day
- 2 Last bow for Blur at Brit awards?
- 3 Copenhagen, probably the best city in the world
- 4 How did a man buried in this frozen car for two months come out of it alive?
- 5 Ian McKellen: What's wrong with us? Should we not aspire to happiness?
- 6 The sci-fi movie Hollywood would not dare to make
- 7 Robert Fisk: 'If only Hague and Clinton would listen to Yusuf Islam'
- 8 Manx court sentences man to be hanged
- 9 Journalists killed in Syria rocket strike 'were targeted'
- 10 Aborted baby lived 45 minutes
Win an adventure with Subaru XV
Enjoy a three-night family adventure for four to Slaley Hall in Northumberland.
Delivering network infrastructure for London 2012
Cisco is maximising connectivity for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Free trial of our new iPad app
Get your daily dose of the best of British journalism, sponsored by American Airlines
Amazing restaurant offers
Three glasses of free champagne and a special menu at 46 top London restaurants.
Latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Career Services
Day In a Page
Can we pull the plug on the plug?
The 10 Best Lecture Series
Michael Frayn: Still making a big noise




Comments