A Swedish prosecutor has concluded his investigation into the rape case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, ending a decade-long case that had sent the defendant to a London church to avoid extradition.
Although the prosecutor's decision can be appealed, it likely closes the case, which began in 2010. The woman's lawyer said she is considering whether to appeal.
Assange violated bail in Britain to avoid possible extradition and took refuge in the embassy in 2012. He is now in prison fighting extradition to the United States for computer hacking and espionage charges that were uncovered after he left the embassy.
While Assange was in the embassy, the state began investigating all but one of the many sexual crimes complaints initially filed by two women.
Deputy Attorney General Eva-Marie Persson reopened the case that had been dormant since Assange left the embassy, but said on Tuesday that the passage of time meant there was not enough evidence to charge Assange.
“After an overall assessment of what emerged during the preliminary investigation, I then make the assessment that the evidence is not strong enough to form the basis for filing an indictment,” he said at a press conference. “Nine years have passed. Time is a player in this decision.”
Assange, a 48-year-old Australian, has repeatedly denied the sex crime allegations, calling them part of a plot to discredit him and secure his eventual extradition to the US.
Assange's Swedish lawyer, Per Samuelson, said he was aware that British lawyers had not yet been able to contact Assange in prison to inform him of the Swedish decision.
“This is the end of Assange’s association with the Swedish justice system,” Samuelson said. “But he is not happy with the way he has been treated. He lost faith in the Swedish justice system years ago.”
Elisabet Massi Fritz, the woman's lawyer, told Reuters that she and her client would discuss whether to seek a review of the decision to dismiss the case. The correct decision would be to question Assange in London and then charge him with rape, she said.
"Following today's decision, my client needs time to process everything that has happened over these nine years so she can move forward with her life.".
