Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden

A BRITISH Supreme Court has ruled that Australian Julian Assange will be extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations.

The WikiLeaks founder has failed in his extradition appeal after the UK Supreme Court ruled in favour, five to two, that Assange’s European Arrest Warrant is valid.

It is not clear whether Assange will also apply to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to appeal the decision.

Dinah Rose, QC for Assange, also says she has concerns about the judgement and “may” ask for the case to be reheard.

Assange was not in court to hear the decision passed down by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, the president of the supreme court.

In a press statement, the court said: “The issue is whether an European arrest warrant (“EAW”) issued by a public prosecutor is a valid Part 1 EAW issued by a “judicial authority” for the purpose and within the meaning of sections 2 and 66 of the Extradition Act 2003.

“By a majority the court has concluded that the Swedish public prosecutor was a “judicial authority” within the meaning of both the framework decision and the Extradition Act.

“It follows that the request for Mr Assange’s extradition has been lawfully made and his appeal against extradition is accordingly dismissed.”

The Supreme Court’s statement also read: “The supreme court by a majority of five to two (Lady Hale and Lord Mance dissenting) dismisses the appeal and holds that an EAW issued by a public prosecutor is a valid Part 1 warrant issued by a judicial authority within the meaning of section 2(2) and 66 of the 2003 Act.”

QC Rose has been granted by Lord Phillips two weeks to make an application to reopen the case and the court’s president has also granted a request to stay the extradition order by two weeks also.

So Assange won’t be forcefully extradited for at least a fortnight, pending what decision is made on to whether or not have his case ‘reheard’.

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