Julian Assange backers ordered to pay £93,500

BACKERS who stood as sureties for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange before he took refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London have been ordered to pay thousands of pounds.

Chief magistrate Howard Riddle said the nine had to pay £93,500 by 6 November.

Mr Assange has been in Ecuador’s London embassy since June as part of his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden. He fears being sent to the United States if he travels to Sweden to face interrogation over the whistle-blowing website.

He has been granted political asylum by Ecuador but faces arrest if he leaves the embassy after breaking bail conditions.

Vaughan Smith, a friend, addressed Westminster Magistrates Court on behalf of the nine, who put up £140,000 ­between them.

The chief magistrate said he accepted they had acted in good faith. He added: “However, they failed in their basic duty, to ­ensure his surrender.”