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Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#31

Post by matt4077 »

mootothemax wrote: post #16

Five years living in a single room, not able to leave or walk outside. Millions of pounds/dollars spent enforcing the same. A gigantic show of idiocy from both sides.

That strikes me as slightly unbalanced. The investigation may be debatable, but certainly not on the same level of idiocy as Assange self-imposed golden cage. And once the investigation had started, there really wasn't an option to drop it when the subject raised the stakes: there's just no concept of "oh well, if he really doesn't want to stand trial..." in any sane system of justice.

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#32

Post by _fizz_buzz_ »

Sephr wrote: post #14

What about the secret US charges? I honestly don't understand how in our democracy there is even such a concept as "secret charges". It just sounds mind-bogglingly corrupt and out of place.

Do they really exist though? Assange travelled to the US on several occasions before the Swedish charges came up ...

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#34

Post by mootothemax »

scandox wrote: post #15
mootothemax wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>He still can't leave. The US is just going to kidnap him off the streets of London. Wouldn't be the first time. When was the last time the US kidnapped someone from London's streets?

I think you're being a tad literal there. The last case I remember was Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr who was kidnapped in Italy and brought to Egypt by the CIA in 2005. Italy's streets are not less intrinsically sacred than England's.

>I think you're being a tad literal there. The last case I remember was Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr who was kidnapped in Italy and brought to Egypt by the CIA in 2005. Italy's streets are not less intrinsically sacred than England's.

I'm being literal on purpose.

Look at the other replies to me; everyone talks about the CIA, yourself included, and ignores the fact that Italy was working hand-in-hand with the CIA:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Omar_case

That's very different, and it remains absolutely disgusting nonetheless.

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#35

Post by tontonius »

tray5 wrote: post #3

Anyone know why they dropped it?

From Swedish news:

Defence laywer Per E Samuelsson identifies two reasons to why the charges were dropped: – He had a solid explanation to what really happened that night. Which means the prosecutor can't expect a conviction in court. Secondly, we can prove that the US is after him. Proof which we didn't have when the Supreme Court tested this in 2015.

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#36

Post by k-mcgrady »

_fizz_buzz_ wrote: post #32
Sephr wrote: post #14

What about the secret US charges? I honestly don't understand how in our democracy there is even such a concept as "secret charges". It just sounds mind-bogglingly corrupt and out of place.

Do they really exist though? Assange travelled to the US on several occasions before the Swedish charges came up ...

Not sure about 'secret charges' but there are these recent charges. [1]

[1] http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/20/politics/julian-assange-wi...

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#37

Post by wbhart »

grabcocque wrote: post #21

The UK police will arrest him for obstruction of justice the moment he tries to leave the wardrobe he's hiding in. He'd probably be convicted, which carries a maximum sentence of [EDIT] 1 year in prison.

Can seeking asylum be used as a reason for bringing charges against someone? As far as I understand, exercising legal options cannot ever be interpreted as an illegal act. I think it's much more likely the UK will pick Assange up on behalf of the US, who have threatened to charge him.

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#38

Post by scandox »

mootothemax wrote: post #34
scandox wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're being a tad literal there. The last case I remember was Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr who was kidnapped in Italy and brought to Egypt by the CIA in 2005. Italy's streets are not less intrinsically sacred than England's.

>I think you're being a tad literal there. The last case I remember was Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr who was kidnapped in Italy and brought to Egypt by the CIA in 2005. Italy's streets are not less intrinsically sacred than England's. I'm being literal on purpose. Look at the other replies to me; everyone talks about the CIA, yourself included, and ignores the fact that Italy was working hand-in-hand with the CIA: https…

Ok, so is it your contention that the UK would not co-operate in similar fashion? And, if so, why? Genuine sense of political autonomy or PR?
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