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Lawyer defends Assange charges
Source: Agencies |
December 25, 2010, Saturday
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THE two Swedish women accusing Julian Assange of sex crimes are not pawns of the CIA, nor do they want revenge or money - they just seek justice for a violation of their "sexual integrity," their lawyer said.
Claes Borgstrom, a self-professed feminist who used to be Sweden's ombudsman for gender equality, said that he finds it "very upsetting" that Assange, his lawyers and some supporters are suggesting the case is a smear campaign against WikiLeaks, the secret-spilling website Assange founded.
"He's been spreading false rumors that he knows are untrue. It's reckless against these two women," Borgstrom said on Thursday. "They, too, are supporters of WikiLeaks. They support its work."
Assange denies the allegations of sexual misconduct, which his lawyers said stem from a dispute over "consensual but unprotected sex." He has not been charged.
The lawyer said Assange had every right to reject the women's sex claims, but said Assange is, in essence, accusing them of breaking the law by suggesting they are driven by ulterior motives.
"There is no truth to this -whatsoever," he added.
British newspaper The Times recently quoted Assange as saying there is "very suggestive evidence" the two women were motivated by revenge, money and police pressure. When the investigation started after the August incidents, Assange said he was warned about "dirty tricks" from the Pentagon - he later said he wasn't pointing fingers at anyone.
Assange met both women in connection with a lecture on August 14 in Stockholm. One was involved in organizing the event for Sweden's Social Democratic Party and offered to host Assange at her apartment. The other was in the audience.
Assange had sex with both within a week, police documents show. The women realized that when the one woman contacted the other, seeking to get in touch with Assange. They went to the police together, not to file a criminal complaint, but to seek advice, Borgstrom said.
A policewoman who heard their stories decided there was reason to suspect they were victims of sex crimes and handed over the case to a prosecutor.
Lawyer Gemma Lindfield, acting for Sweden in British courts, said one of the women accused Assange of pinning her down and refusing to use a condom. The second says Assange had sex with her without a condom while she was asleep.
The case appears anything but clear-cut. A chief prosecutor in Stockholm dropped the rape complaint shortly after the case began.
Borgstrom successfully appealed the decision to a more senior prosecutor who relaunched the investigation. Two-and-half months later, when Assange had left Sweden, the senior prosecutor got court approval for a request to interrogate Assange on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion.
Claes Borgstrom, a self-professed feminist who used to be Sweden's ombudsman for gender equality, said that he finds it "very upsetting" that Assange, his lawyers and some supporters are suggesting the case is a smear campaign against WikiLeaks, the secret-spilling website Assange founded.
"He's been spreading false rumors that he knows are untrue. It's reckless against these two women," Borgstrom said on Thursday. "They, too, are supporters of WikiLeaks. They support its work."
Assange denies the allegations of sexual misconduct, which his lawyers said stem from a dispute over "consensual but unprotected sex." He has not been charged.
The lawyer said Assange had every right to reject the women's sex claims, but said Assange is, in essence, accusing them of breaking the law by suggesting they are driven by ulterior motives.
"There is no truth to this -whatsoever," he added.
British newspaper The Times recently quoted Assange as saying there is "very suggestive evidence" the two women were motivated by revenge, money and police pressure. When the investigation started after the August incidents, Assange said he was warned about "dirty tricks" from the Pentagon - he later said he wasn't pointing fingers at anyone.
Assange met both women in connection with a lecture on August 14 in Stockholm. One was involved in organizing the event for Sweden's Social Democratic Party and offered to host Assange at her apartment. The other was in the audience.
Assange had sex with both within a week, police documents show. The women realized that when the one woman contacted the other, seeking to get in touch with Assange. They went to the police together, not to file a criminal complaint, but to seek advice, Borgstrom said.
A policewoman who heard their stories decided there was reason to suspect they were victims of sex crimes and handed over the case to a prosecutor.
Lawyer Gemma Lindfield, acting for Sweden in British courts, said one of the women accused Assange of pinning her down and refusing to use a condom. The second says Assange had sex with her without a condom while she was asleep.
The case appears anything but clear-cut. A chief prosecutor in Stockholm dropped the rape complaint shortly after the case began.
Borgstrom successfully appealed the decision to a more senior prosecutor who relaunched the investigation. Two-and-half months later, when Assange had left Sweden, the senior prosecutor got court approval for a request to interrogate Assange on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion.
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