Raggle-taggle of ‘household names’ presented large sums towards WikiLeaks founder’s failed bail plea


The already curious case of Julian Assange took another weird twist yesterday once the court learned that a raggle-taggle of “household names” had been prepared to stake their status in his situation, supplying sureties for the courtroom having a complete worth of £180,000.

Despite claiming to not know Assange, the film-maker Ken Loach along with the socialite and charity fundraiser Jemima Khan stood ahead of Westminster magistrates and offered massive  sums in the direction of Assange’s bail, however bail was  later refused.

Offering £20,000, Loach stated he did not know Assange aside from by reputation, but additional: “I believe the operate he has done continues to be a public service. I assume we are entitled to know the dealings of these that govern us.”

Khan offered an extra £20,000, “or a lot more if will need be”.

In a statement later, she said: “I make no judgment of Julian Assange as an individual as I have by no means met him. I am offering my assistance to him as I imagine from the universal right to freedom of data and our right to become instructed the reality.”

On her Twitter feed very last month, Khan asked if Assange was “the new Jason Bourne”, a reference to the fictional motion hero produced by the thriller author Robert Ludlum. The publish has since been deleted.

The journalist and filmmaker John Pilger, who also provided £20,000, said he knew Assange like a journalist and personal good friend and had a “very high regard for him”.

The largest donation of £80,000 was provided by an unknown American relation who did not desire to be named since of fear for his security.

Patricia David, a professor, and also the prime lawyer Geoffrey Sheen each and every provided up £20,000 surety on grounds that they’d invested their lives fighting for human rights.

Outdoors courtroom Pilger said: “This business in Sweden can be a travesty; an harmless man features a proper to be free of charge.

“Having his freedom taken away is outrageous. Sweden need to be ashamed. This isn’t justice - this really is outrageous.”

He added: “Behind this he has manufactured a great deal of enemies, the principal one becoming the warmonger, the united states.”

Howard Riddle, the judge in the courtroom in Horseferry Road, London, commended 4 with the sureties for his or her willingness to assist “out of concern for human rights” and without personal knowledge of Assange.