Wikileaks founder faces 175 years in jail as US extradition request gets signed
JULIAN Assange is on the brink of being extradited to the US where he faces 175 years behind bars.
British Home Secretary Sajid Javid revealed he had signed the request yesterday - with the matter to now go before the courts tomorrow.
Assange, 47, is facing charges of computer hacking and disclosing classified documents in what has been described as "one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States".
If found guilty, he faces up to 175 years in jail.
He is currently behind bars in the UK, serving 11 months for breaching bail for hiding in the Ecuador embassy.
Mr Javid told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I am very pleased that the police were finally able to apprehend him and now he's rightly behind bars because he broke UK law.
"There is an extradition request from the US that is before the courts tomorrow. "But yesterday I signed the extradition order and certified it and that will be going in front of the courts tomorrow."
He said it was a decision for the courts over whether Assange should be extradited, adding: "There is a very important part of it for the Home Secretary and I want to see justice done at all times and we've got a legitimate extradition request so I've signed it but the final decision is now with the courts."
Assange has been attempting to block extradition to the United States on charges of computer hacking and disclosing classified documents.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Mr Assange was arrested in relation to a provisional extradition request from the United States of America.
"He is accused of offences including computer misuse and the unauthorised disclosure of national defence information.
"We have received the full extradition request, which has been certified by the Home Secretary.
"This case is now before the courts and it would be inappropriate to comment further."
It comes after a court ruled Julian Assange cannot be extradited to Sweden to face rape charges, which he has always denied.
The ruling doesn't mean a preliminary investigation in Sweden is to be abandoned, only that 47-year-old Assange shouldn't be extradited and could be questioned in Britain.
In April, Assange was evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he had been holed up claiming political asylum since 2012.
Assange was then immediately arrested by British police on April 11 and is currently serving a 50-week sentence in Britain for jumping bail in 2012.
After being jailed, the WikiLeaks founder was moved to a medical ward in the high security Belmarsh prison last month and his supporters expressed "grave concerns" about his health.
The 47-year-old's father John Shipton arrived at the prison with Chinese activist Ai Weiwei yesterday afternoon.
British Home Secretary Sajid Javid revealed he had signed the request yesterday - with the matter to now go before the courts tomorrow.
Assange, 47, is facing charges of computer hacking and disclosing classified documents in what has been described as "one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States".
If found guilty, he faces up to 175 years in jail.
He is currently behind bars in the UK, serving 11 months for breaching bail for hiding in the Ecuador embassy.
Mr Javid told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I am very pleased that the police were finally able to apprehend him and now he's rightly behind bars because he broke UK law.
"There is an extradition request from the US that is before the courts tomorrow. "But yesterday I signed the extradition order and certified it and that will be going in front of the courts tomorrow."
He said it was a decision for the courts over whether Assange should be extradited, adding: "There is a very important part of it for the Home Secretary and I want to see justice done at all times and we've got a legitimate extradition request so I've signed it but the final decision is now with the courts."
Assange has been attempting to block extradition to the United States on charges of computer hacking and disclosing classified documents.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Mr Assange was arrested in relation to a provisional extradition request from the United States of America.
"He is accused of offences including computer misuse and the unauthorised disclosure of national defence information.
"We have received the full extradition request, which has been certified by the Home Secretary.
"This case is now before the courts and it would be inappropriate to comment further."
It comes after a court ruled Julian Assange cannot be extradited to Sweden to face rape charges, which he has always denied.
The ruling doesn't mean a preliminary investigation in Sweden is to be abandoned, only that 47-year-old Assange shouldn't be extradited and could be questioned in Britain.
In April, Assange was evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he had been holed up claiming political asylum since 2012.
Assange was then immediately arrested by British police on April 11 and is currently serving a 50-week sentence in Britain for jumping bail in 2012.
After being jailed, the WikiLeaks founder was moved to a medical ward in the high security Belmarsh prison last month and his supporters expressed "grave concerns" about his health.
The 47-year-old's father John Shipton arrived at the prison with Chinese activist Ai Weiwei yesterday afternoon.
Comments
Post a Comment
WETIN YOU THINK? Talk Your Mind here