Julian Assange’s rape case dropped by Swedish prosecutors

The alleged rape investigation involving WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is currently in prison in Britain, has been discontinued, a Swedish prosecutor said. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson said the alleged victim’s complaint was credible but the rape case was dropped because of lack of strong evidence. However, she added: “My assessment is that all investigative measures that can be taken have been taken. But… the evidence is not strong enough to file an indictment.” In June, a Swedish court ruled that Assange should not be detained, meaning that while a preliminary investigation in Sweden shouldn’t be abandoned, he wouldn’t be extradited and could be questioned in Britain. Two months earlier, Assange was evicted from the Ecuador Embassy in London where he had been hiding since 2012. He was immediately arrested and is currently serving a 50-week sentence at Belmarsh Prison for jumping bail in 2012. He is also fighting extradition to the US, which accuses him of publishing secret documents. Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, said: “Sweden has dropped its preliminary investigation into Mr Assange for the third time, after reopening it without any new evidence or information. “Let us now focus on the threat Mr Assange has been warning about for years: the belligerent prosecution of the United States and the threat it poses to the First Amendment.”