- Probe dropped despite Swedish prosecutors finding plaintiff’s claim ‘credible’
- Assange, 48, has repeatedly denied the allegation against him made in 2010
- He is being held at Belmarsh Prison in London awaiting US extradition demandsÂ
- He was evicted in April from the Ecuador Embassy in London after seven years
The move avoids a possible dilemma for the UK courts which could have had to decide between competing extradition requests from the US and Sweden.
Ms Persson said in Stockholm that the complainant’s evidence was deemed reliable, but that after nearly a decade, witnesses’ memories had faded.
She told a press conference today: ‘I’m discontinuing the preliminary investigation.
‘My assessment is that all investigative measures that can be taken have been taken. But… the evidence is not strong enough to file an indictment.’
The prosecutor said the decision to drop the investigation could be appealed.
She added: ‘I would like to emphasise that the injured party has submitted a credible and reliable version of events.
‘Her statements have been coherent, extensive and detailed; however, my overall assessment is that the evidential situation has been weakened to such an extent that that there is no longer any reason to continue the investigation.’
Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, said the focus should now move onto the ‘threat’ that Assange has been ‘warning about for years: the belligerent prosecution of the United States and the threat it poses to the First Amendment’.