Swedish prosecutor presents case against Assange

Sweden's public prosecutor argued for the extradition of Julian Assange on Thursday, insisting that the court had the right to order his return to Sweden. The two-day hearing, which started before Britain's Supreme Court on Wednesday, is WikiLeaks founder’s last chance to convince the British judges not to extradite him to Sweden. Two Swedish women accused Assange of rape, coercion and molestation in August 2010. Swedish prosecutor presents case against Assange The case before the Supreme Court hinges on a dry technical point: whether Sweden's public prosecutor was within its rights to issue a European warrant for Assange's arrest. In Great Britain, just like in the U.S., only judges can issue arrest warrants while the Swedish public claims that Sweden, like other European countries, allowes public prosecutors to issue warrants. Assange’s lawyer Dinah Rose blasted that argument Wednesday, saying hat a prosecutor "does not, and indeed cannot as a matter of principle, exercise judicial authority." If the judges rule against Assange, the 40-year-old Australian is expected to be on a flight to Sweden within two weeks. Assange could conceivably appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, but because Sweden is a fellow European country that would not stop his extradition. Once in Sweden, where there is no bail, he would be arrested and a detention hearing would be held within four days. Prosecutors could decide to release him after questioning, but the court could also extend his period of detention. Such hearings must be held every two weeks until a suspect is charged or released, AP has reported. It's still not clear whether charges will be brought against him in Sweden. If Assange is convicted, the penalties for the types of crime he's accused of range from fines to as much as six years in prison. Assange spent the last year in house arrest in England. He denies the allegations, claiming the sex was consensual. The WikiLeaks founder claims that the charges against him are politically motivated and that he is afraid that he could be extradited to the U.S. Julian Assange is seen in London on Thursday (Beta/AP) Tanjug

Swedish prosecutor presents case against Assange

The case before the Supreme Court hinges on a dry technical point: whether Sweden's public prosecutor was within its rights to issue a European warrant for Assange's arrest.

In Great Britain, just like in the U.S., only judges can issue arrest warrants while the Swedish public claims that Sweden, like other European countries, allowes public prosecutors to issue warrants.

Assange’s lawyer Dinah Rose blasted that argument Wednesday, saying hat a prosecutor "does not, and indeed cannot as a matter of principle, exercise judicial authority."

If the judges rule against Assange, the 40-year-old Australian is expected to be on a flight to Sweden within two weeks. Assange could conceivably appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, but because Sweden is a fellow European country that would not stop his extradition.

Once in Sweden, where there is no bail, he would be arrested and a detention hearing would be held within four days. Prosecutors could decide to release him after questioning, but the court could also extend his period of detention. Such hearings must be held every two weeks until a suspect is charged or released, AP has reported.

It's still not clear whether charges will be brought against him in Sweden. If Assange is convicted, the penalties for the types of crime he's accused of range from fines to as much as six years in prison.

Assange spent the last year in house arrest in England. He denies the allegations, claiming the sex was consensual.

The WikiLeaks founder claims that the charges against him are politically motivated and that he is afraid that he could be extradited to the U.S.