Former Swedish chief prosecutor demands explanation for ("Bizarre") arrest order

[kpete]

Source: skandinav i florida

Former Swedish chief prosecutor demands explanation for arrest order

The former Swedish chief prosecutor, Sven-Erik Alhem, demands an explanation from the prosecutors that filed the arrest order for Assange and later withdraw the order. Alhem tells the Swedish newpaper Dagens Nyheter that he finds the actions of the prosecutors bizarre and confusing. Alhem points out several actions to DN that he finds questionable; the arrest order was based on the assumption probable cause, the strongest grade of suspicion of crime that is required for an arrest order, and later this probable cause suspicions is withdrawn without the appearence of any new information in the case. This is very confusing.

An order for an arrest in absentia is not normally made official as this will give the suspect a chance to escape. This was not the case here it was announce to the world and no one could avoid the media storm that followed these news.

In this case when the arrest order was issued for a well known person, extra caution would have been taken by the prosecutor's office to make sure an experienced and well educated spokesperson could have explained to the public and media the reasons for each step in the investigation.

Posted by Editor On 08/22/2010

Read more: http://www.skandinaviflorida.com/web/sif.nsf/d6plinks/JEIE-88KHYT

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some interesting info here as well:

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in web furore over Swedish rape claim

• Allegation apparently leaked to press by police
• Story garners 1m hits before prosecutor steps in

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/22/wikileaks-julian-assange-sweden

[reorg]

1. answers from the Swedish prosecutor's website

The matter concerning Mr Assange, FAQ

On Staturday afternoon chief prosecutor Eva Finné came to the desicion that Julian Assange could no longer be suspected of rape. Considering that, Assange is no longer arrested in his absence.

Is it common that different prosecutors make different decisions in the same matter?

When Ms Finné became in charge of the matter on Saturday, she had more information than the first prosecutor had on Friday night. Decisions on coercive measures, like arrest, should constantly be re-evaluated during an investigation and must always be based on the actual information.

What will happen next?

Eva Finné will thouroghly consider all facts in the matter and continue to lead the investigation the forthcoming week. At the moment it is not possible to estimate when more information can be given or which decisions will be made. Information will be published as soon as possible.

Why was the matter handed over to another prosecutor?

The decision to appoint Eva Finné as prosecutor in charge was made on Saturday. Under most circumstances the duty prosecutors on Monday morning hand over all weekend matters to different prosecutors who will be in fully charge of the investigations. Very serious crimes or matters with a large media cover could, however, be handed over earlier - to lessen the burden on the duty prosecutors, who have to deal with all matters reported by the Police. The matter concerning Mr Assange was judged as such a matter.

Why was Mr Assanges name published?

Normally, the Swedish Prosecution Authority do not publish the names of persons suspected of crime. The authority did not in this case initiate publication. Late on Friday night, a Swedish newspaper got hold of information concerning Mr Assange's arrest. When interviewed, the duty prosecutor confirmed the facts presented.

http://www.aklagare.se/In-English/

[Prometheus Bound]

3. I see they neglected to give the name of the first prosecutor.

[reorg]

12. Yes, but her name is known

and she says she doesn't regret her decision, according to the Swedish tabloid that first published the story ...

http://www.expressen.se/Nyheter/1.2106087/jouraklagaren-jo-anmald

On Friday, Swedish prosecutor Maria Häljebo Kjellstrand issued an arrest warrant for Assange on charges of rape and molestation after receiving a phone call from a policeman who received a complaint from a victim of the alleged rape.

Such swift action by prosecutors is not unusual in rape cases in Sweden, before evidence is not entirely substantiated.

... Kjellstrand told Swedish tabloid Expressen that she acted completely according to procedure. When asked why she thought her superior had withdrawn the warrant, she said, ”She probably received new information. If she hadn't, she wouldn't revoke someone else's decision like that.”

... ”The chief prosecutor will review the matter thoroughly during next week,” Rosander said to Expressen. She defended Kjellstrand’s quick warrant, saying that it is customary in this kind of case.

However, the arrest warrant has drawn a lot of criticism including from independent Swedish network, RO, which defends rule of law. RO has filed official complaint against Kjellstrand. ...

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/41380/

The more interesting question, which has not been answered yet, seems to be:

Why did she confirm the name of the accused to a tabloid?

Everyone says that this is not usually done, not only because of privacy concerns, it defeats the purpose of a warrant if you trumpet the name of the wanted person all over the world. Unless you are participating in a smear campaign.

Maria Häljebo Kjellstrand:

[sendero]

5. This didn't pass the...

. smell test from the get go. I'll bet the Swedish prosecutors won't be punked like that again.

[SteveM]

25. My nearly-precise words. I wonder what "agencies" did the punking? nt

[intaglio]

2. This story had the smell of black propaganda from the start

And that smell gets worse as time goes on

[Joey Kidd]

4. Fishy.

The Corruption Inciting Autocrats strikes again ?

[another saigon]

6. M$NBC had the "MOLESTATION CHARGE"

in a banner at the bottom of the screen this morning while 'reporting' on Julian. Think there will be follow up news stories about the retractions?

[The Wizard]

7. It stinks like the charges

against Scott Ritter as a child molester.
Uncover Pentagon bullshit and they charge you with a sex crime. Methinks the Swedish prosecutor took a bribe or was threatened.

[formercia]

24. Blackmail?

It works wonders.

[Thor_MN]

8. The first must have been the Swedish Chef Prosecutor

"BorteBor HorBortebor"

[FirstTimeVoterAt37]

9. Shirley Sherrod's a racist, Obama's a Muslim

Now Assange is a rapist. Wonder how long it will be before Alan Grayson eats kittens and Franken is part of an intergalactic conspiracy to destroy the world's oxygen.

I'm just not believing anything I hear at first now. It's a lie until proven truthful beyond the shadow of a doubt.

[crim son]

10. +1

You got it.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

18. but grayson does eat kitties.

And franken is stealing our precious oxygen. I read it on the intertubes.

[R Hickey]

11. What will we hear next? Suicide from all the stress?

Why did it take the CIA so long to catch this sex pervert?

Next thing we'll hear is that the rape victims were actually barnyard animals. See, the way it all happened was that a team of CIA agents snuck into Assange's flat and switched Assanage's Valium bottle with a bottle of Viagra.

Unwittingly, Assange had gulped down half the bottle when the hiding agents jumped out from behind a sofa and knocked him out with a blow to the head. Then they threw him in the trunk of their black limo, and dropped him off on a lonely country road in rural Sweden.

The crazed and disoriented whistle blower then woke up in a ditch by the road, looked around and spied what appeared to be a secluded farm. After spending four hours seducing a goat, a pig and a little red pony, Assanage, still trying to reduce the perplexing swelling in his lower extremities, spied a female badger, cowering behind a food bin in the darkest corner of the pony's stall.

That's when the shocked Sweedish farmer walked into the barn, rubbed his eyes unbelievingly at the moaning animals, and watched the sex crazed Assange advance on the snarling badger. The flabergasted farmer then decided this abomination was too big for just the local police to handle, and wisely decided to call the CIA, who's phone number he had on speed dial.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

22. Contortionist suicide, with hands tied behind his back.

[semillama]

13. I hope I'm not the only one who first read that as "Swedish Chef prosecutor" n/t

[Kurovski]

14. It happens.

At least you weren't heading a press conference. :D

[louis-t]

15. Aw, I wasn't going to say anything. Me, too.

Not wearing my reading glasses.

[DFW]

16. In most European languages "chef" means "Chief" or "boss"

In France, Germany, Holland and Scandinavia, that's how they say it.

[wookie72]

20. The Swedish Chef Prosecutor would be going after

Robert Bork.

[bemildred]

17. Mr Alhem wants to defend the integrity of his office, he ought to be mad, and he is. nt

[DeSwiss]

19. Confusing?

It's not confusing at all. We KNOW who is behind this, now don't we?


- If you don't know, then repeat after me: "Military-Industrial-Complex."

K&R

[mogster]

21. Please see this post for additional info

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8998284&mesg_id=9001426

[ooglymoogly]

23. The prosecutor/s responsible should be fired

and water boarded to find out what really went down. This way to fishy pile of stink has gone viral; Redounding to the Swedes and their good reputation.