Sweden drops Assange sexual assault probe

AFP, STOCKHOLM: Swedish prosecutors dropped a sexual assault probe against Julian Assange on Thursday, but the move failed to placate the Wikileaks founder who still faces a rape claim. Two of the four allegations against the Australian—who has been holed up at Ecuador’s London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition—have reached their statute of limitations after five years. “Now that the statute of limitations has expired on certain offences, I am obliged to drop part of the investigation,” prosecutor Marianne Ny said. But she said she still wanted to question the 44-year-old over the more serious claim of rape. The accusations dropped involve one count of sexual assault and another of unlawful coercion. A separate allegation of sexual molestation will run out on August 18. The Australian can still however be prosecuted for rape, which carries a 10-year statute of limitations that expires in 2020.
Assange has always denied the allegations brought by two Swedish women, and insists the sexual encounters were consensual.

 

Sweden drops Assange sexual assault probe

AFP, STOCKHOLM: Swedish prosecutors dropped a sexual assault probe against Julian Assange on Thursday, but the move failed to placate the Wikileaks founder who still faces a rape claim. Two of the four allegations against the Australianwho has been holed up at Ecuadors London embassy since 2012 to avoid extraditionhave reached their statute of limitations after five years. Now that the statute of limitations has expired on certain offences, I am obliged to drop part of the investigation, prosecutor Marianne Ny said. But she said she still wanted to question the 44-year-old over the more serious claim of rape. The accusations dropped involve one count of sexual assault and another of unlawful coercion. A separate allegation of sexual molestation will run out on August 18. The Australian can still however be prosecuted for rape, which carries a 10-year statute of limitations that expires in 2020. Assange has always denied the allegations brought by two Swedish women, and insists the sexual encounters were consensual.