Sweden drops Assange rape charge

whoputthecatout · 2017-05-19T09:29:14+00:00

[[www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39973864]] Quelle surprise! No details yet......

Xenophile · 19/05/2017 10:39

Yay for Patriarchy!

First not rapist Evans, then Rolf Harris being released and now this.

It's like a buffet of sexual offenders and predators, allegedly.

CruellaDeVilsEvilSister · 19/05/2017 11:23

I think that when you look back at how that case was handled it's hard to explain it in any other way than a politically motivated attempt to engineer a way of getting Julian Assange in American custody.

Xenophile · 19/05/2017 11:46

Really?

He's in far more danger now of being extradited than he ever was had he been tried in Sweden.

CruellaDeVilsEvilSister · 19/05/2017 12:10

I think it's unlikely he would ever have been tried in Sweden to be honest. If so he would have been charged but no charges have ever been brought.

Why do your think he's in more danger of being extradited now?

NoLoveofMine · 19/05/2017 12:25

Oh dear. An investigation into rape has to be dropped because, without being able to question the suspect, the Swedish authorities are unable to investigate, meaning he's escaped facing any justice. They can't bring charges as they've been unable to question him. Yet more excuses made for a man accused of rape.

Fliptophead · 19/05/2017 12:28

I think he's guilty but as the idiot chose 5 years in an Embassy instead of a suspended prison sentence or whatever rapists get these days we should see it as a sort of win. Also he had to deal with lady Gaga and five years of embassy officials which has got to be worse than prison.

Fliptophead · 19/05/2017 12:29

I think he'd have been seen as a sort of martyr to the cause if he'd actually gone, now he's just looked at like the pathetic little man child he is

CruellaDeVilsEvilSister · 19/05/2017 12:48

Oh dear. An investigation into rape has to be dropped because, without being able to question the suspect, the Swedish authorities are unable to investigate, meaning he's escaped facing any justice. They can't bring charges as they've been unable to question him.

No, that's not correct at all. He has been questioned twice. Most recently over two days in November 2016 in the Ecuadorean Embassy. In all they've had over six years to bring charges if they wanted to, and I'm sure that they would have if this was really about justice for rape victims.

NoLoveofMine · 19/05/2017 12:55

"According to Swedish legislation, a criminal investigation is to be conducted as quickly as possible. In order to proceed with the case, Julian Assange would have to be formally notified of the criminal suspicions against him. We cannot expect to receive assistance from Ecuador regarding this. Therefore the investigation is discontinued."

CruellaDeVilsEvilSister · 19/05/2017 13:00

Yes, Marianne Ny being rather disingenuous there I think. What does that actually mean, and how does a need to move quickly tally with the six years they've spent investigating, including four years where they've known what room Julian Assange is in but have not seen fit to actually send someone there to further the investigation?

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 19/05/2017 13:01

Really?

He's in far more danger now of being extradited than he ever was had he been tried in Sweden

There was nothing Sweden could do other than keep this hanging over him indefinitely. It is Ecuador you should be criticising not Sweden. If he leaves the embassy I'm sure the US will do all it can to arrest him.

Different crime but if you want him punished a spell in a US jail for espionage offences will be considerably more unpleasant than a spell in a Swedish jail for rape.

saffronwblue · 19/05/2017 13:01

The Ecuadorean must be so longing to get him out. Imagine having a dick like Assange as a surprise 5 year house guest?

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 19/05/2017 13:06

including four years where they've known what room Julian Assange is in but have not seen fit to actually send someone there to further the investigation?

How do you suggest the Swedish police get access the Ecuadorian embassy? Neither they nor the British police have any right to enter it without the express permission of the ambassador.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 19/05/2017 13:07

The Ecuadorean must be so longing to get him out. Imagine having a dick like Assange as a surprise 5 year house guest?
It's the loss of face isn't it? They are stuck with him.

Xenophile · 19/05/2017 13:08

Lass, are you suggesting that I am not criticising Ecuador? I think there's enough blame here to spread around liberally, with the greatest blame being placed on Assange himself.

By all accounts the Ecuadorian embassy had no clue he was just going to fester in their tiny office for as long as he has, granting visitations to the great and good. I suspect they are heartily sick of him and the potential he has for causing an international incident simply because he can.

Why do your think he's in more danger of being extradited now?

Possibly because he no longer has serious charges to answer in another foreign country and because Theresa May is desperate to get as far up Trump's arse as she physically can.

Still, I'm sure Assange, being the man of integrity and honour he claims he is will stand by his assertion that once the US released Chelsea Manning, he would return to the USA.

Bloody hell, I managed to type that with a straight face and everything

CruellaDeVilsEvilSister · 19/05/2017 13:08

I expect there will be pressure put on the British Government to arrest him and get him to the US. You could imagine a May-led government agreeing to that. Once he's in the US he'll never see daylight again.

bigolenerdy · 19/05/2017 13:12

"...An investigation into rape has to be dropped because, without being able to question the suspect, the Swedish authorities are unable to investigate, meaning he's escaped facing any justice..."

I don't think this is correct. Did they not interview him at the Embassy ?

CruellaDeVilsEvilSister · 19/05/2017 13:12

How do you suggest the Swedish police get access the Ecuadorian embassy? Neither they nor the British police have any right to enter it without the express permission of the ambassador.

The Swedish prosectutors have been allowed access to the Embassy. Why would they need further access?

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 19/05/2017 13:12

Lass, are you suggesting that I am not criticising Ecuador? I think there's enough blame here to spread around liberally, with the greatest blame being placed on Assange himself.

Eh? I was agreeing with you. My post was directed at the OP and others criticising Sweden.

CruellaDeVilsEvilSister · 19/05/2017 13:14

bigolenerdy see my post above 12:48.

aginghippy · 19/05/2017 13:15

Yes they did interview him at the embassy.

I think there is something else going on here besides the supposed inability to investigate. We may never know what that something else is, but we can be reasonably sure it is not the interests of the women he is charged with raping.

Xenophile · 19/05/2017 13:15

My apologies Lass.

NoLoveofMine · 19/05/2017 13:18

I don't think this is correct. Did they not interview him at the Embassy ?

I phrased what I was saying incorrectly and am no expert on this case so am happy to be corrected. It's certainly true, though, that he's never faced up to justice and instead hidden behind supposed concerns over extradition rather than go to Sweden to address the complaint of rape. It's also abhorrent how many on the left have sought to excuse his actions and dismiss a complaint of sexual violence.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 19/05/2017 13:20

I agree with Xenophile. If he tries to get to Ecuador the US will do everything possible to arrest him.

I don't particularly think Theresa May has been grovelling any more to Trump than she has to to acknowledge he is president, but even if she were I've no objection to her making it easy for the US.

Don't the US have history of being a little unconcerned about diplomatic protocol when it suits? They could not possibly enter the embassy but if he is in transit rules might be broken.

bigolenerdy · 19/05/2017 13:22

He doesn't need to be in Sweden for the rape allegations to be investigated, and so in that sense, I have no ides what you mean by "....he's never faced up to justice...".