In Julian Assange extradition case, spotlight turns on Swedish law
| Stockholm, Sweden
The Swedish legal system found itself under the microscope this week as defense lawyers for the founder, Julian Assange, called the judiciary鈥檚 investigation into the famed whistleblower flawed and politically motivated.
Today in London, Mr. Assange's lawyers argued against his extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning in a case involving the sexual assault of two women. While he has denied the accusations, Assange and his defense team have skillfully presented the image of an unfair and compromised Swedish judiciary to bolster their case against extradition. (Editor's note: The original version of this sentence should have used the word "accusations" to refer to the nature of the case involving possible sexual assault.)
Normally cited as an example of good governance, Sweden is now fending off attacks from Assange's lawyers who charge the country is pursuing their client at the behest of the US for leaking classified government and military documents.
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Among other things, Assange鈥檚 lawyers stated he would be tried behind closed doors if sent to Sweden. They have also alleged the investigation is nothing short of a CIA plot to ensnare Assange and get him in a US courtroom, where they say he could face the death penalty.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just bogus. It has no merit at all,鈥� says Marten Schultz, a professor of law at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden, about Assange's argument. 鈥淭he Swedish judicial system is completely separate, more than most countries, from the political system."
Despite the warnings of a "closed door" trial, criminal cases are public in Sweden, though at times the courts can decide to hold the proceedings in private when it comes to particularly sensitive crimes, such as sex crimes. However, three high-profile rape cases here in the last 10 years were open to the public.
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听Other differences in the Swedish criminal procedures are that a jury of peers is used in cases of freedom of expression. The courts normally rely on lay judges, who are appointed by local political councils for a period of four years, to reach a verdict in conjunction with the presiding judge.
Prime minister weighs in
厂飞别诲别苍鈥檚 Prime Minister Frederik Rienfeldt weighed in today, expressing his disappointment over the comments and saying the country鈥檚 judiciary was autonomous and free from political coercion.
"It is unfortunate. We have an independent judiciary,鈥� the premier told Swedish news agency TT. "I can only defend what everyone in Sweden already knows: that we have an independent, noncoerced judiciary.鈥�
Professor Schultz says that while Assange's arguments will likely have little effect on how 厂飞别诲别苍鈥檚 justice system operates, he said the claims could hurt perceptions of the nation鈥檚 independence.
In a statement posted on the Swedish Prosecution Authority鈥檚 website today, Prosecutor General Anders Perklev said the office would refrain from commenting on criticism aimed at the authority or at Marianne Ny, the Swedish prosecutor who asked British authorities to detain Assange and send him to Stockholm.
Mr. Perklev would only say that prosecutors are obligated under Swedish law to pursue a criminal investigation when there is sufficient evidence suggesting a crime was committed.
鈥淢arianne Ny thus acted completely in accordance with her role as public prosecutor, and she is obviously authorized to take the decisions in the matter,鈥� the statement read.
Assange鈥檚 defense team sought to discredit Ms. Ny鈥檚 objectivity by calling on Brita Sundberg-Weitman, a retired Swedish judge, who in court on Monday said Ny, 鈥渉as a rather biased view against men in the treatment of sexual offenses.鈥�
Under cross-examination, however, Sundberg-Weitman stated she had no personal acquaintance with Ny and was simply going on what she had been told through media reports about the prosecutor.
Closing arguments for the extradition hearing are set for Friday morning.
