Julian Assange loses appeal against extradition to face rape inquiries

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has lost his High Court bid to block extradition to Sweden where he faces allegations of rape and sexual assault.

Two judges at the London court rejected claims that extraditing the 40-year-old Australian would be “unfair and unlawful”.

The Swedish authorities want him to answer accusations of “raping” one woman and “sexually molesting and coercing” another in Stockholm in August last year.

Assange, whose WikiLeaks website published leaked diplomatic cables that embarrassed several governments and international businesses, denies the allegations and says they are politically motivated.

Yesterday, the High Court upheld a ruling by District Judge Howard Riddle at Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court, south London, in February that the computer expert should be extradited to face investigation.

The world’s most famous whistleblower was mobbed as he approached the court.

The judges ruled that the issuing of the European arrest warrant (EAW) that led to Assange’s arrest and all subsequent proceedings to achieve extradition were “proportionate”.

Assange’s legal team now has to consider whether to apply to take the case to the Supreme Court.