Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Assange Being Charged For Sexual Molestation of Minors?

Through the course of today Julian Assange is being arrested by Interpol agents regarding a Swedish Sexual assault charge.

More here:
The Daily Mail - The Wikileaks sex files: How two one-night stands sparked a worldwide hunt for Julian Assange

A discussion with some friends on the issue got me wondering what the legal terms of the charges were. I found my way to the Swedish Prosecution Authority

Reading a blurb about Assange's proceedings

The matter concerning Mr. Assange
Director of Prosecution, Ms. Marianne Ny, will hold a press conference concerning the proceedings in the Assange matter.

Time: 16.45 pm Tuesday 7 December

Address: Police Headquarters, Ernst Fontells plats 3, Göteborg (Gothenburg)

Next to the article there's a column for More Information, Background information and some other legal jargon. The Background section, however, contained a link to the Swedish Penal Code and a the relevant sections
The Swedish Penal Code

See Chapter 6, On Sexual Crimes, sections 1, 2, and 7.

See also Chapter 4, On Crimes against Liberty and Peace, section 7


Checking out Chapter 6, Section 1 refers to rape or coercing sexual intercourse through violence or threat of violence. Section 2 refers to coercion by unlawful means that aren't covered by Section 1 (probably where the bulk of the case is going to be focused on). Section 7 however refers to the molestation of minors and the coercions of minors from 15-17 to participate in pornographic material.

I don't know if this means anything yet but I find it extremely strange that they would list that section so directly when none of the women currently involved are minors.

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