A Swedish court will hold a public hearing Wednesday to determine if an arrest warrant against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for alleged sexual assault should be dropped.
A decision to cancel the warrant would be a step towards enabling the 43-year-old Australian to walk out of the Ecuadoran embassy in London, where he has been holed up for the past two years in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.
The Stockholm District Court will open at 1100 GMT to review the arrest warrant, issued in late 2010, for incidents of rape and sexual molestation that allegedly took place that year -- claims Assange denies.
Assange sought refuge in Ecuador's embassy in Britain in June 2012 after having exhausted all legal options at British courts to avoid being extradited to Sweden.
He has said he fears that being sent to Sweden would be a pretext for transferring him to the United States, where WikiLeaks sparked an uproar with its publication of thousands of secret documents.
WikiLeaks repeatedly drove the global news agenda with startling revelations of the behind-the-scenes activities of governments around the world.
From confidential assessments by US diplomats of Chinese leaders to revised body counts in Iraq, the WikiLeaks documents provided the public with an unprecedented look under the hood of international politics.
Assange's legal team has argued that Swedish prosecutors have dragged out the case unreasonably long by not interviewing him at the embassy.
"We are confident about the hearing," Assange's lawyer Thomas Olsson told AFP. "We think we have very strong arguments for the court to overrule the original decision."
Camilla Murray, chief administrator at the court, said a decision in favour of Assange would mean that a European arrest warrant against him will be immediately cancelled.
"The charges will not be dropped just because the court cancels the arrest warrant. But I cannot answer for the prosecutors and what they will do. They are the ones leading the investigation," she told AFP.
Assange has acknowledged that even if the Swedish prosecutors decide to drop the case, it is only one part of the legal battle that keeps him marooned at the embassy.
"I still have the larger problem, which is that of the United States and its pending prosecution, and perhaps extradition warrant," he told reporters in a conference call in June.
Olsson, his lawyer, was also cautious about stating what will happen if the Stockholm district court drops the arrest warrant Wednesday.
"What he will do when that occurs is up to Julian Assange. We're going to have a hearing... and we hope to get a decision overruling (the arrest warrant) and then we will take it from there."
AFP
Wed Jul 16 2014
![Swedish court to decide on WikiLeaks founder's fate Swedish court to decide on WikiLeaks founder's fate](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-04/61365243320_295x200.jpg)
Jualian Assange sought refuge in Ecuador's embassy in Britain in June 2012. - File pic
![Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723696968_SophiaAlbarakbah.jpg)
Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti
Aktres Sophia Albarakbah kini giat mengumpul bukti untuk mengheret pihak tidak bertanggungjawab termasuk pembuli siber ke muka pengadilan.
![Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723706198_TBsurirumahmaut.jpg)
Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik
Seorang wanita yang sebelum ini dilaporkan hilang ditemui meninggal dunia disyaki dibunuh dalam bilik tidur rumahnya di Indera Mahkota di sini pada petang Rabu.
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701143_TBastro.jpg)
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
AWANI Ringkas: Pemain bola bawa kerambit juga suspek baling bom petrol
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Mahkamah Tinggi London mulakan pendengaran rayuan Assange terhadap ekstradisi Mahkamah Tinggi London mulakan pendengaran rayuan Assange terhadap ekstradisi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720520785_JulianAssange.jpg)
Mahkamah Tinggi London mulakan pendengaran rayuan Assange terhadap ekstradisi
Mahkamah Tinggi di London memulakan pendengaran selama dua hari berhubung rayuan pengasas WikiLeaks Julian Assange terhadap keputusan ekstradisinya ke Amerika Syarikat (AS) pada Selasa.
![Julian Assange akhirnya bebas, kembali semula ke Australia Julian Assange akhirnya bebas, kembali semula ke Australia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719372424_JulianAssange.jpg)
Julian Assange akhirnya bebas, kembali semula ke Australia
Peguamnya, Barry Pollack berkata, anak guamnya telah "menderita dengan teruk dalam perjuangannya untuk kebebasan bersuara dan kebebasan akhbar."
![Julian Assange tiba di Saipan untuk muktamad perjanjian pengakuan bersalah dengan AS Julian Assange tiba di Saipan untuk muktamad perjanjian pengakuan bersalah dengan AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719355338_JulianAssange.jpg)
Julian Assange tiba di Saipan untuk muktamad perjanjian pengakuan bersalah dengan AS
Perjanjian pengakuan bersalah itu sekali gus membebaskan pengasas WikiLeaks itu daripada pergelutan undang-undang yang dihadapinya selama 14 tahun.
![Bocor dokumen sulit kerajaan: Pengasas WikiLeaks Julian Assange dibebaskan dalam perjanjian dengan AS Bocor dokumen sulit kerajaan: Pengasas WikiLeaks Julian Assange dibebaskan dalam perjanjian dengan AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-04/51554976798_JulianAssange.jpg)
Bocor dokumen sulit kerajaan: Pengasas WikiLeaks Julian Assange dibebaskan dalam perjanjian dengan AS
Pengakuan bersalah yang dibuat pengasas WikiLeaks itu akan membolehkannya mengelak daripada dipenjarakan di Amerika.
![Pengasas WikiLeaks bakal diesktradisi ke AS Pengasas WikiLeaks bakal diesktradisi ke AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2017-05/41493809680_London.jpg)
Pengasas WikiLeaks bakal diesktradisi ke AS
Assange juga akan dipindahkan ke Australia untuk menjalani hukuman sekiranya disabit kesalahan.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/71636302121_BAP.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Julian Assange dibenar berkahwin di penjara Julian Assange dibenar berkahwin di penjara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/61636695374_TBWEBJULIAN.jpg)
Julian Assange dibenar berkahwin di penjara
Pengasas Wikileaks, Julian Assange diberikan kebenaran untuk berkahwin dengan pasangannya Stella Moris di penjara Belmarsh.
![Tiada sekatan terhadap media, kebebasan bersuara di Azerbaijan - Ilham Aliyev Tiada sekatan terhadap media, kebebasan bersuara di Azerbaijan - Ilham Aliyev](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-11/41605520169_IlhamAliyev.jpg)
Tiada sekatan terhadap media, kebebasan bersuara di Azerbaijan - Ilham Aliyev
Presiden Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev menegaskan pihaknya tidak pernah menyekat kebebasan media, suara dan akses internet di negara tersebut.
![Kes ekstradisi Assange didengar di Mahkamah Majistret Westminster London Kes ekstradisi Assange didengar di Mahkamah Majistret Westminster London](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-05/71556793099_WikiLeaks.jpg)
Kes ekstradisi Assange didengar di Mahkamah Majistret Westminster London
Tidak berapa lama selepas penahanan Assange pada 11 April, WikiLeaks berkata AS mahu Assange didakwa atas kesalahan mengintip.
![Akhirnya Julian Assange ditahan polis Akhirnya Julian Assange ditahan polis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-04/51554976798_JulianAssange.jpg)
Akhirnya Julian Assange ditahan polis
Pengasas WikiLeaks Julian Assange akhirnya ditahan polis setelah berlindung di Kedutaan Ecuador sejak 2012.