London, Feb 6: In a setback to Julian Assange, a British court Tuesday ruled that an UK arrest warrant against the Wikileaks founder was still valid, signalling that he could be arrested if he tries to leave the Ecuadorian embassy here where he has been holed up since 2012.
A handful of supporters waving “Free Assange” banners had gathered outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London in anticipation of the ruling in the high-profile case involving the 46-year-old Australian national.
But the judge ruled that it was “not uncommon” for a warrant for failing to surrender to remain valid when there were no underlying proceedings pending. Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot, the judge who is currently also presiding over the extradition trial of liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya – the next hearing date for which is expected in mid-March, had reserved her judgement in the Assange case last month.
“Once at court, a defendant will be given an opportunity to put an argument for reasonable cause. And that is when Assange will be able to place that before the court. I’m not persuaded that the warrant should be withdrawn,” she noted today.
However, the hearing carried on as Assange’s lawyers continued to argue further points. “We are arguing four points. If we lose the first point then we will move on to argue the rest today,” tweeted Assange, who will have the option to appeal against today’s ruling.
At a previous hearing, she had expressed her concerns over the health of Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuador embassy in London since he sought asylum there nearly six years ago.
PTI
