The rape allegation against the Wikileaks co-founder was dismissed because 'the evidence has weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question.'
- November 20, 2019
AceShowbiz - Swedish prosecutors have dropped their investigation into a rape allegation made against Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange.
Assange denies the accusation, one of two sexual assault allegations made by women after he visited Sweden in 2010.
The 48-year-old Australian avoided extradition to Sweden for seven years by jumping bail while fighting extradition from the U.K. and seeking refuge at the Ecuadorean embassy in London in 2012.
He was evicted from the embassy in April and sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for breaching his bail conditions.
After his arrest, Swedish officials reopened one of the two cases, which was still within the country's statute of limitations, but on Tuesday, November 19, they announced they are dropping their investigation.
Swedish Prosecution Authority officials said in a statement, "Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Eva-Marie Persson has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding Julian Assange."
"The reason for this decision is that the evidence has weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question."
Persson herself added, "I would like to emphasise that the injured party has submitted a credible and reliable version of events. Her statements have been coherent, extensive and detailed; however, my overall assessment is that the evidential situation has been weakened to such an extent that that there is no longer any reason to continue the investigation."
Assange is currently being held in Belmarsh high-security prison in the U.K., where he was due to receive a visit from celebrity supporter Pamela Anderson on Tuesday. However, the "Baywatch" actress has pulled out of the visit due to a "personal emergency."
