UK arrest warrant against Assange still stands

International Desk: A UK arrest warrant against Julian Assange is still valid, Westminster Magistrates' Court has ruled.

Lawyers for the WikiLeaks founder asked the court to withdraw the warrant, saying it had "lost its purpose".

It was issued in 2012 after he allegedly breached bail conditions by seeking asylum in Ecuador's London embassy, where he has remained.

He had been facing extradition to Sweden to answer sex assault claims but these have since been dropped.

Earlier this month the UK government refused to grant Mr Assange diplomatic status and called on him to leave the embassy to "face justice".

The offence of failing to surrender to bail carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.

Source: BBC


risingbd/Dhaka/Feb 6, 2018/AI