Sweden court rejects request to detain WikiLeaks founder News
Sweden court rejects request to detain WikiLeaks founder

A Swedish trial court on Monday denied prosecutors’ request to have WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange detained in absentia over allegations of rape since Assange is already detained in the UK.

The detention would have allowed prosecutors to move forward with steps to extradite Assange as he refused cooperation. Under Swedish law, detention in absentia would allow the prosecutors to issue a European Arrest Warrant and bring Assange to Sweden if he is abroad or in hiding.

Eva-Marie Persson, Sweden’s deputy director of public prosecution, said that the investigation on rape allegations can continue without the detention order.