Julian Assange: WikiLeaks founder faces decision on …

JULIAN Assange could walk free from the Ecuadorean Embassy where he has been holed up for more than five years, following a key judgment due on Tuesday, UK time.

The decision on whether a UK arrest warrant for Assange should be dropped could mean the Australian activist would be able to leave the Knightsbridge embassy as its the only remaining action hes got against him according to the UK Crown Prosecution Service.

It comes amid reports the WikiLeaks founder could have up to $25 million stashed in anonymous bitcoin accounts and has led to speculation over what he might do next.

Assanges UK-based lawyer Jennifer Robinson said regardless of Tuesdays decision, the central concern remains the risk of extradition to the US which the UK government has refused to confirm or deny is a possibility.

No one can credibly deny that risk. The US Attorney-General has said it is still a priority to prosecute Mr Assange, she told news.com.au ahead of the judgement.

The head of the CIA has described WikiLeaks as a hostile non-state intelligence agency. In these circumstances, we remain concerned about the risk of extradition to the US.

She said the team will continue to seek assurances he will not be sent overseas and remain very concerned about the health impact of having lived more than five years without access to outdoor space.

There is a grave threat to free speech. The US is seeking to criminalise the publication of information in the public interest by equating it with espionage. This must be resisted by all who believe in free speech, she said.

The comments follow a January 26 hearing in which Assanges lawyers argued the charges against him for skipping bail should be dropped because the original arrest warrant from Swedish authorities they related to has expired. The UK Crime Prosecution Service argued the 2012 warrant should stand and Assange should not be rewarded for simply outlasting authorities.

Outside the brick embassy with snowflakes swirling on a freezing February day, a huddle of Ecuadorean tourists who had come to see a slice of home were divided on the Australians fate.

I think it was good that he found a place to stay. We dont know why hes still here, said David, 33, from Quito. He said despite the ongoing legal drama in Britain, many at home are indifferent to the situation.

We dont care actually. People there are not so worried about international stuff. Its not an issue were talking about every day.

His friend Jose, 33, disagreed, saying most people dont agree with recent reports he had been granted an Ecuadorean passport and after posting a picture of himself in a football shirt on Twitter as Ecuador sought to resolve the situation.

He doesnt even speak Spanish. How can you get a passport from that country? I prefer that [he comes out]. It would be better for him and for our country, he said.

Others seemed incredulous the internet activist was still inside despite frequently passing the address.

To be honest I really thought he was gone, said John, 55, a black cab driver idling outside. To be stuck in a room for all that time is rough, but if hes got allegations of sexual assault he should have faced them.

Pascal, 21, who works at a European-style cafe serving croissants and luxury coffee within eyesight of Assanges balcony, said the five-year stay has been sentence enough.

It would have felt like [prison] to him, he said. Its a different kind of bars. Its prison its essentially the same.

Assange has not indicated what he would do if the judgement is in his favour, however if his tweets about bitcoin are to be believed, he could be rich enough to buy his own island to retire to.

In October, he claimed WikiLeaks had made a 50,000 per cent return after investing in bitcoin in 2010, with recent reports his fortune may have soared to $25 million or more. Hes also been able to maintain a strong profile in recent years and appear in keynote speeches via video link.

Last week he tweeted a link to an interview featuring musician David Thrussell who called Australia a nation of sheep where you could light their asses on fire and they would not notice with the comment the truth about Australia.

While a win would technically mean he could leave, its likely Assange would continue to seek legal assurances he would not be extradited upon release. A loss would mean a return to the status quo where he could face arrest for skipping bail and remain subject to covert surveillance from British authorities.

Continued here:
Julian Assange: WikiLeaks founder faces decision on ...