Sweden to reopen Julian Assange rape case

Assange has avoided extradition to Sweden for seven years over the alleged offence after seeking refuge at the Ecuadorean embassy in London

epa07566263 (FILE) - Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange, in a prison van, as he leaves Southwark Crown Court in London, Britain, 01 May 2019, reissued 13 May 2019. Media reports on 13 May 2019 state that Swedish prosecutors are to announce whether they are reopening an inquiry into a rape allegation against Julian Assange at the request of the alleged victim's lawyer.  EPA/NEIL HALL
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Swedish prosecutors have announced they are reopening an inquiry into a rape allegation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

He has been resisting attempts to extradite him from the UK to Sweden to face the allegations, which he denies, for the last seven years after seeking refuge at the Ecuadorean embassy in London.

Assange is  serving a 50-week jail sentence in the UK for breaching his bail conditions after the embassy lost patience and invited the Metropolitan Police into their quarters to arrest him last month.

He is also facing an extradition request from the US over the leaking of sensitive military documents in 2010.

It now means the UK has to decide whether to extradite him to the US or Sweden.

In making the decision, the UK's Home Secretary Sajid Javid will have to consider the seriousness of the offences and the date each warrant was issued, according to UK extradition law.

Last month more than 70 MPs and peers signed a letter urging the home secretary to ensure Assange faces authorities in Sweden first before the US if they want his extradition.

Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange in 2010. He fought the extradition up to the UK's highest court and lost but while he was out on bail, he sought asylum in Ecuador’s embassy and as the years dragged on, Swedish prosecutors dropped the investigation because it had become impossible to pursue the probe in his absence.

On Monday, Sweden's deputy director of public prosecutions, Eva-Marie Persson, said they will reopen the case into a report of alleged rape made to them on August 17, 2010.

She said there was still probable cause to suspect the crime occurred, although the investigation had been shelved while Assange hid in the embassy.

It comes as the alleged victim in the case asked for him to face prosecution.

The case was previously dropped as Swedish prosecutors said they were unable to pursue the case while he was in the embassy.

Under Swedish law, they have until next year to pursue the case.

Assange has vowed to fight the extradition requests.

He is due back in court in the UK on May 30 to face extradition matters.

The US accuses the 47 year old of directing the former solider and intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to hack into a Pentagon computer system. He could face five years in jail but is likely to wage a lengthy battle to stop his extradition.

Assange previously told Westminster Magistrates Court he did not want to surrender himself for extradition “for doing journalism that has won many awards protected many people”.

This week Ecuador's attorney general announced that it will be handing over all Assange's files, computer, mobile phones and other electronic devices to the US.

Assange's actions have cost British taxpayers £16 million (Dh76.7m).