Over the course of the summer, a total of seven witness interviews have been conducted as part of the investigation concerning Julian Assange. An analysis of this material is now underway, after which the public prosecutor will decide how to proceed with the case.

Assange is suspected of committing a rape in 2010. The investigation was reopened on 13 May 2019. “During the summer, we have conducted interviews intended to verify the evidence, as nine years have passed since the suspected crime. We have concentrated on the inquiries possible to conduct here in Sweden. The interviews are now being transcribed and analysed. We have mainly re-interviewed those individuals who were interviewed in 2010, although two of the persons interviewed have not previously been interviewed,” says Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Eva-Marie Persson. What happens now? “Once we have analysed the interviews, I will decide how to proceed with the case. The investigation may then be discontinued or I may decide to conduct further inquiries. If I make the assessment that the next step is to interview Julian Assange, I will issue a European Investigation Order, in which case I shall write to the British authorities with a request to conduct an interview,” says Eva-Marie Persson. Once the prosecutor has reached a decision, this will be communicated via a press release. The limitation period expires on 20 August 2020. If a prosecution is commenced before that date, the period of limitation will be extended on condition that Assange is served with a summons before 20 August 2020. Contact Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Eva-Marie Persson is not available to the media today, Monday.      Press Service +46 10 562 50 20

Public prosecutor Daniel Suneson has decided not to appeal the verdict of Stockholm District Court imposing conditional sentences for assault on an American artist and two other individuals.

 “I have accepted the District Court’s evaluation of the evidence, in as much as the use of whole or broken bottles during the assault has not been proven. In my opinion, the criminal act has a somewhat higher penal value than the two months decided by the District Court; however, after due consideration, I have chosen not to appeal the verdict. All three defendants have in fact been brought to justice for assault and the District Court has dismissed the plea of self-defence, something that I believe was important to clarify in this particular case,” says public prosecutor Daniel Suneson. The assault in question took place in Stockholm on 30 June and three men were remanded in custody on 5 July on suspicion of having committed the crime. All three were released from custody on the conclusion of the trial. On 14 August, they were given conditional sentences for assault by the District Court. Link to press release from the Stockholm District Court. Stockholm District Court, Case No. B 9283-19 The public prosecutor is available to the media today, Tuesday, from 9:00 until 10:30 on +46 (0)10 562 55 93.    Press Service +46 10 562 50 20

The artist, and two men in his company, were prosecuted for assault. Stockholm District Court will give judgment in the case on Wednesday 14 August at 14.00. The prosecutor will be available after the judgment has been announced.

The three men are suspected of committing assault of a 19-year-old man in central Stockholm on 30 June. After the trial was concluded on 2 August, the men were released from custody by Stockholm District Court. The court will issue the judgement on 14 August at 14.00. Senior Public Prosecutor Daniel Suneson is available per telephone after the judgment has been issued. Case number at Stockholm District Court: B 9283-19 Contact: Senior Public Prosecutor Daniel Suneson, City Public Prosecution Office, Stockholm, +46 10 562 55 93. Available to the media on 14 August at 15.00-16.30. Press Service: +46 10 562 50 20

The three individuals held on remand since 5 July on suspicion of committing an assault in central Stockholm have been charged today. One of the individuals concerned is an American artist. The main hearing will start on Tuesday 30 July. The prosecutor will be available via telephone to the media after the main hearing is over.

Stockholm District Court, Case No. B 9283-19 Information concerning the schedule, see link to Stockholm District Court Contact After the last day of the trial, public prosecutor Daniel Suneson will be available via telephone.   Press Service +46 10 562 50 20

The three individuals held on remand since 5 July on suspicion of committing an assault in central Stockholm have been charged. One of the individuals concerned is an American artist. The public prosecutor will be available to the media via telephone on Thursday morning.

"I have today commenced criminal proceedings against the three individuals suspected of assault causing actual bodily harm, having come to the conclusion that the events in question constitute a crime and despite claims of self-defence and provocation. In reaching this conclusion, I have studied the videos made available to the inquiry. It is worth noting that I have had access to a greater amount of material than that which has previously been available on the internet. In addition to video material, the injured party’s statements have been supported by witness statements," says public prosecutor Daniel Suneson of the City Public Prosecution Office. The alleged assault took place on 30 June in central Stockholm. The three men who have now been charged were held on the night of 3 July and have been in custody since then. They were initially suspected of aggravated assault. Stockholm District Court decided to remand the three men in custody on 5 July, on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm. "There were initially two injured parties in the case; however, the allegations concerning one of these were dropped due to insufficient supporting evidence. The prosecution I have now brought therefore relates to only one injured party. A counter allegation was also made against one of the injured parties by the artist’s bodyguard. This case was investigated and closed on 22 July," says Daniel Suneson. What happens now? The three individuals will remain on remand until the trial. Stockholm District Court will decide on a date for the trial to commence. The public prosecutor recommends that three days be set aside for the hearing. Stockholm District Court, Case No. B 9283-19 Contact Public prosecutor Daniel Suneson of the City Public Prosecution Office is available to the media via telephone today between 9:00 and 12:00 on +46 (0)10 562 55 93. No interviews will be given by any means other than over the telephone. Interviews may be conducted in Swedish or English. Press Service +46 10 562 50 20   Prosecutor – part of a legal system Swedish prosecutors are independent when making decisions concerning prosecution or coercive measures, such as search and arrest. This means that each prosecutor is solely responsible for his or her decisions, and that these decisions cannot be changed by a prosecutor’s superior, for example. The role of the Ministry of Justice Within the Government Offices, the Ministry of Justice has the primary responsibility for matters relating to the judicial system, including the budgets and administration of the government agencies. The Ministry of Justice may not interfere with the way a government agency applies a law or takes a decision in a specific case in its exercise of public authority. The Swedish judicial system (pdf)

In the case concerning an American artist who has been arrested on suspicion of assault since 5 July, a counter-notice was also made against an injured party in the case. The preliminary investigation has been going on in parallel where the injured party was suspected of abuse, assault and attempted assault. The preliminary investigation in that matter is now discontinued and the injured party is no longer suspected of any crime.

“The person who filed the counter-notice repeatedly asks the other person to leave. When he refuses to leave, the other person first pushes him away and then takes a grip around the other persons neck and lifts him away a few meters. In this situation, the person throws his headphones on the notifier, and tries to hand out battles, which may be considered as right to self-defense.”, says Senior Public Prosecutor Daniel Suneson, the person in charge of the investigation. On Friday 19 July, Stockholm District Court granted the prosecutor more time to continue the preliminary investigation of the case concerning the American artist and two other persons, who have been detained since 5 July on probable cause on suspicion of assault in Stockholm. That investigation is still ongoing. The prosecutor must decide on this matter no later than Thursday 25 July at 11 am CET. The prosecutor is not available to the media for the time being. When new information is available, a press release will be released. Case number in Stockholm District Court: B 9283-19      Press Service +46 10 562 50 20

Stockholm District Court has granted the prosecutor more time to continue the preliminary investigation of the case concerning the American artist who has been detained since 5 July on probable cause on suspicion of assault in Stockholm.

“The Court decided that the artist will remain in custody until 25 July, because of the flight risk. This gives us time to complete the investigation.”, says Daniel Suneson. If the prosecutor decides to indict the artist, the new time limit has been set to 25 July at 11 am, at the latest. The District Court decided that the other two detained in the case also will remain in custody. Case number in Stockholm District Court: B 9283-19 The prosecutor is not able to be available to the media during the day. When new information is available, a press release will be released. For general questions about the Swedish detention premises, please contact the Swedish Prison and Probation Service's press service, phone +46 11 496 31 00. Due to Swedish law, they cannot provide any information about individuals. Link: The Swedish Prison and Probation Service, Remand    Press Service +46 10 562 50 20

On Friday 5 July, an artist was detained on probable cause for assault in central Stockholm. The prosecutor has now requested for an extension of time until 25 July to finish the investigation. An application for a detention order has been sent to Stockholm District Court.

"We have worked intensively with the investigation and need more time, until Thursday next week in order to complete the preliminary investigation. As long as the preliminary investigation is ongoing, I cannot give any further comments.", says prosecutor Daniel Suneson, the person in charge of the investigation. In addition to the artist, two more men were detained on suspicion of assault in the same case. The request for extension of time also applies to them. A counter-notice is made against one of the injured parties in the case. A preliminary investigation is ongoing in parallel. The suspected crimes are abuse, assault and attempted assault. Decisions in this matter will be taken no later than 25 July. Due to the summer holidays period, Senior Public Prosecutor Daniel Suneson has taken over as the person in charge of the investigation. Case number in Stockholm District Court: B 9283-19 Detention hearings The detention hearings will start at 1 pm CET, starting with the artist at 1-2 pm and the other two suspects at 2-3 pm and 3-4 pm respectively.   The Swedish judicial system (Link to the Ministry of Justice)     Press Service +46 10 562 50 20

The preliminary investigation continues regarding the American artist who is detained by the Stockholm District Court in Sweden on suspicion of assault in Stockholm.

Several investigation measures have already been conducted and the analysis of material continues. There is also a preliminary investigation in the case concerning the aggrieved party who is suspected of molestation and assault. On the 19 July, at the latest, the prosecutor must decide whether to file a prosecution or ask the court for a longer detention period in order to finalize the investigation. The prosecutor cannot give any further information about the case for the time being. When information becomes available, this will be provided via a press release. Court´s case number: B 9283-19     Press Service +46 10 562 50 20

Comment from the prosecutor on the Court’s decision to detain Julian Assange.

“I fully respect the court’s decision. They had to take a position on a difficult assessment issue, which I considered should be examined by a court”, says Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Eva-Marie Persson. “The investigation continues with interviews in Sweden. I will also issue a European Investigation Order in order to interview Julian Assange. No date has been set yet. We will constantly review the state of the investigation.”, says Eva-Marie Persson.     Press Service +46 10 562 50 20   Further information European Investigation Order European Arrest Warrant