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Assange's bail appeal to be heard today
Source: Agencies |
December 16, 2010, Thursday
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A BRITISH court will decide today whether to free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has become the scourge of the US establishment, on a 200,000 pound (US$317,000) bail over accusations of sex crimes in Sweden.
Assange, who has outraged United States authorities by releasing hundreds of secret diplomatic cables, was granted bail on Tuesday by a court but prosecutors immediately challenged the ruling and he remains in a London jail.
"The prosecution appeal against the Magistrates Court decision to grant Julian Assange bail has been filed. It will be heard tomorrow," officials said in a brief statement. The case will be heard in England's High Court in central London. A lawyer for Assange, a 39-year-old Australian computer expert, said earlier yesterday his backers had raised around half of the cash he needs to secure bail.
Lawyer Mark Stephens said ordinary members of the public wanted to contribute to the fund to release him. "We have to come up with 200,000 pounds in pound notes and that is difficult to come by," Stephens said.
Prominent public figures including US film-maker Michael Moore, Australian journalist John Pilger and British author Hanif Kureishi have pledged their support for Assange.
Assange and his lawyers have voiced fears that US prosecutors may be preparing to indict him for espionage over WikiLeaks' publication of the documents.
Assange is fighting attempts to extradite him to Sweden for questioning over allegations of sexual misconduct made by two female WikiLeaks volunteers, which he denies.
Assange, who has outraged United States authorities by releasing hundreds of secret diplomatic cables, was granted bail on Tuesday by a court but prosecutors immediately challenged the ruling and he remains in a London jail.
"The prosecution appeal against the Magistrates Court decision to grant Julian Assange bail has been filed. It will be heard tomorrow," officials said in a brief statement. The case will be heard in England's High Court in central London. A lawyer for Assange, a 39-year-old Australian computer expert, said earlier yesterday his backers had raised around half of the cash he needs to secure bail.
Lawyer Mark Stephens said ordinary members of the public wanted to contribute to the fund to release him. "We have to come up with 200,000 pounds in pound notes and that is difficult to come by," Stephens said.
Prominent public figures including US film-maker Michael Moore, Australian journalist John Pilger and British author Hanif Kureishi have pledged their support for Assange.
Assange and his lawyers have voiced fears that US prosecutors may be preparing to indict him for espionage over WikiLeaks' publication of the documents.
Assange is fighting attempts to extradite him to Sweden for questioning over allegations of sexual misconduct made by two female WikiLeaks volunteers, which he denies.
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