Sweden Red-Faced as Assange Unlikely to Be Charged Over Sex Assault Claims

Swedish prosecutors investigating Julian Assange over sexual assault allegations look likely to be left red-faced after a lawyer representing one of the women at the center of the claims admitted the WikiLeaks founder is likely to never face charges for some of the alleged crimes.

Claes Borgström, who is representing one of the women alleging that Mr Assange sexually assaulted them, told Swedish Radio news program Ekot that some of the alleged offences will reach their statute of limitation in August, meaning that it will be no longer possible for prosecutors to take them to court.

"If the statute of limitation comes into effect, and most things indicate that it will, the prosecutor will drop the investigation," he said.

Statute of Limitations

Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden for questioning over allegations of rape and another of coercion and sexual assault.

The two alleged offences that will reach their statute of limitation in August are the coercion and sexual assault claims, while the 44-year-old may still be charged on suspicion of rape.

Wonder what kind of dirt US has on Sweden to be an obvious pawn in #Assange case that's devoid of merit! https://t.co/Eb8riODT6b #auspol

— PamelaDrew (@PamelaDrew) July 12, 2015

The Australian has emphatically denied the allegations and has refused to travel to Sweden for questioning over fears he may be sent to the United States.

US authorities are currently undertaking an investigation into WikiLeaks' release of 500,000 classified military files relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with the release of a further 250,000 diplomatic cables which proved to be hugely embarrassing for Washington.

More evidence that #Sweden justice isn't so blind when it comes to #Assange: https://t.co/HMPWZIpdGC

— Liberté-info (@Liberte_info) July 12, 2015

If Assange was to travel to the US, there are fears he could be charged with offences under the Espionage Act and face considerable time in prison.

Embarrassment for Swedish Authorities

Any such statute of limitation on allegations would prove to be embarrassing for Swedish prosecutors, particularly given their previous insistence that Assange needs to be questioned in Sweden, rather than via videolink, or from the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Rumours #Assange case might be closed down without even questioning him. Has #Sweden realised how utterly embarrassing the end game will be?

— #ClientState (@garymlord) July 16, 2015

In March, Swedish officials performed a dramatic U-turn, agreeing to come to London to question Assange, however a trip planned for last month was canceled at the last minute, as prosecutors hadn't received proper permission from the Ecuadorian embassy.

Ecuador's foreign ministry said it was considering the request "in the spirit of judicial cooperation" and would make a decision based on international law and "Ecuadorian jurisdiction in the area of asylum rights."