Julian Assange jailed for 50 weeks for skipping bail in London
Julian Assange has been sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching bail as he prepares for a second court appearance today to fight US extradition.
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Julian Assange has been sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching bail by seeking asylum at the Ecuadorean embassy for seven years.
The WikiLeaks founder appeared before Judge Deborah Taylor at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Judge Taylor said: “It’s difficult to envisage a more serious example for this offence.
“In my judgment, seriousness of the offence merits … 50 weeks.
“Any time on remand will count against your sentence.”
American authorities have charged Assange with conspiring with former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to break into a Pentagon computer system.
Sweden suspended its investigation into possible sexual misconduct against Assange two years ago because he was beyond their reach while he was living in the embassy.
Prosecutors have said that investigation could be revived if his situation changed.
It comes as Assange’s Australian-based barrister Greg Barns and WikiLeaks colleague Kristinn Hrafnsson lashed out at the “harsh” sentence.
Assange apologised to the court in a written statement through his lawyers, but Judge Taylor was not moved.
She said that he had a “choice” and could have walked out of the embassy to face due process in a British court.
His seven years in the Ecuadorean embassy has cost British taxpayers £16 million ($29 million) in security costs.
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Assange said through a statement provided by his lawyer Mark Summers: “I apologise unreservedly to those who consider I have disrespected them, this is not what I wanted or intended.
“I did what I thought at the time was the best I could at the time that would protect me from the worst of my fears.
“While the difficulties I know face may have become even greater it is necessary for me to say this now.”
Prosecutor Aaron Watkins argued that Assange deserved a category A sentence, with the maximum for breaching bail being 12 months.
Wikileaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said outside Southwark Crown Court he was angry at the sentence.
“This sentencing here today is an outrage,” he said. “It is vindictive in nature and doesn’t give us a lot of faith in the UK justice system.”
He said there was another case where a person accused on manslaughter skipped bail and only received six months jail.
Assange was arrested last month after Ecuadorean officials invited British police in to the embassy.
Assange’s Australian-based barrister labelled the sentence as “very tough”, adding it was important for people not to lose sight of the impending extradition request.
“This is a very dangerous request because it involves the US seeking to extradite a person who was upholding the values of freedom of speech and freedom of the media,” barrister Greg Barns said.
“It must be resisted, it will be resisted,” he said of the extradition. The 47-year-old’s family were concerned about how high the sentence was, according to Mr Barns.
“But in a sense it’s important the bail matter is now behind Julian so the focus can be on the very dangerous nature of the extradition request,” he said.
Assange was wanted by the United States for his role in leaking tens of thousands of classified documents.
The United States have charged him with computer related charges over the release of the documents in 2010, which carries a maximum five years jail.
Assange has argued he has a right to freedom of speech and should be protected as a journalist.
But there were concerns the dump of documents may have endangered American spies because of revealed details of their activities.
His father John Shipton has steadfastly defended him, saying he was the victim of a witch hunt.
He has been lobbying Australian authorities to have him returned there.
Swedish authorities had wanted Assange over a rape claim, which he had denied and was later dropped.
Assange raised his fists to supporters as he was taken from the court.
They chanted him support and yelled “shame on you” to the court.
The 47-year-old was found guilty of breaching the Bail Act last month after his arrest at the Ecuadorean Embassy.
He took refuge in the London embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations, which he has denied.
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