Sweden drops rape charge against Assange

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can at least heave a slight sigh of relief as prosecutors in Sweden said on Friday that they would drop their investigation into alleged rape against him.

However, Mr. Assange, 45, an Australian, who had refused to go to Sweden for fear of being extradited to the United States, is still not in the clear following the prosecutors’ decision.

Read also: Trump decries “witch hunt”, denies asking Comey to drop probe against Flynn

The London police said on Friday that they would arrest Mr. Assange, who has maintained his innocence, if he tried to leave the Ecuadorian embassy where he has been holed up for the past five years.

“Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr. Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offense,” the Metropolitan Police in London said in a statement.

Recall that Assange took refuge at the embassy about 60-months ago after the authorities in Stockholm opened a preliminary rape inquiry against him.

 

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