Assange Freed on Bail

On Thursday, the London High Court rejected the appeal of Sweden, which seeks the extradition of Julian Assange for alleged sex offenses.

“I will grant bail,” said Judge Ouseley, stating that he would adjust the  release conditions set on Tuesday by a judge of first instance.

Bail of $315,000 was granted by the lower court on Tuesday after a friend of Mr. Assange offered to allow him to stay at a mansion in Suffolk, an hour’s drive from London in eastern England.

According to the bail conditions set by the lower court, Mr. Assange must spend every night at the mansion, Ellingham Hall, a 10-bedroom Georgian home on a 650-acre estate owned by Vaughan Smith, the wealthy founder of the Frontline journalists’ club in London.

The conditions include a curfew, daily visits to the police and electronic tagging to enable the police to track his movements.

On Thursday, Judge Ounsley said that in addition, Mr. Assange would be restricted to a small area around Ellingham Hall rather than be given free access to the entire estate.

The newest demands for bail and sureties brought the total to $370,000.

Julian Assange, whose web broadcasts thousands of cables of U.S. diplomacy, had been imprisoned at Wandsworth jail (south London) since December 7, the day that he appeared voluntarily at the police.

Source: AFP / The New York Times