Assange Sentenced to 50 Weeks in Jail for Skipping Bail, Twice as Long as Others (Like a Manslaughter Convict)

Today, Assange had the "law" book thrown at him as he received a 50 week sentence for skipping the terms of his bail and not appearing before the court in 2012.

_{Source AFP/Getty}

In 2012 when Assange was arrested by the UK in order to eventually be extradited to Sweden for alleged rape charges, Assange knew that Sweden might extradite him to the US upon request. He was no fool. Rather than take that risk, he chose to seek refuge in at the Ecuadorian embassy in London when he was released on bail.

At court, Assange said he was "struggling with difficult circumstances" at the time, and apologized to whoever "considers I've disrespected them".

"I did what I thought at the time was the best or perhaps the only thing that I could have done."

Can you blame him? His lawyer, Mark Summers QC, said Assange was in fear of his life to be renditioned to the US.

"As threats rained down on him from America, they overshadowed everything."

Assange issued a letter of apology which reads:

I apologise unreservedly to those who consider that I have disrespected them by the way I have pursued my case.

This is not what I wanted or intended.

I found myself struggling with terrifying circumstances for which neither I nor those from whom I sought advice could work out any remedy.

I did what I thought at the time was the best and perhaps the only thing that could be done - which I hoped might lead to a legal resolution being reached between Ecuador and Sweden that would protect me from the worst of my fears.

I regret the course that this took; the difficulties were instead compounded and impacted upon very many others.

Whilst the difficulties I now face may have become even greater, nevertheless it is right for me to say this now.

As a result of him fleeing the persecution of the US, he failed to appear before the UK court, which violated the terms of his bail. This is the why he's being jailed for 50 weeks, which is the maximum sentence to for someone who skips bail.

Judge Deborah Taylor told Assange considered his actions to be a "most serious offense" as the BBC put it. She said:

"By hiding in the embassy you deliberately put yourself out of reach, while remaining in the UK."

She also claimed that "brinngin him to justice" caost the UK taxpayers 16 million pounds. Seriously? Why the fuck did it ost them 16 million? Oh right, having cops stalk him for years just to "bring him to justice" for evading a court hearing to be extradited to Sweden. I wonder if they would have done that if it were someone else who was avoiding going to court?

The judge justified her verdict in a half-assed way about how grave this "offense" was:

"Whilst you may have had fears as to what may happen to you, nonetheless you had a choice, and the course of action you chose was to commit this offence."

The judge, and probably the UK "legal" system takes his actions of exposing criminals activity in governments as a "crime" worthy of the most severe consequences they can throw at him with their legally concocted framework of "laws". Other criminals in the UK, like the so-called speedboat killer who was eventually convicted of manslaughter, was only given 6 months jail for breaching his bail terms and not appearing before the court.

Julian Assange's sentence, for seeking and receiving asylum, is twice as much as the sentencing guidelines. The so-called speedboat killer, convicted of manslaughter, was only sentenced to six months for failing to appear in court.

_Source

This is the corruption of justice that Assange faces. He was sentenced to twice the jail term of a manslaughterer, and twice the jail therm that is recommended for someone who fails to appear before court and breachers their bail conditions.

The UK judge views his actions as more criminal that a manslaughter case where someone was killed. And he killed no one. On the contrary, Assange helped people become more free in our world by dispelling the lies and deception of the powerful criminal authoritarian governments. And they don't like it, neither do their yes-men judges who uphold that authority.

As WikiLeaks said, this verdict shows how vindictive the authoritarian structure is towards Assange for his assault on their "holy" institution of government that they bow to.

Julian Assange's sentence is as shocking as it is vindictive. We have grave concerns as to whether he will receive a fair extradition hearing in the UK.

_Source

As Assange was taken away at the end of the hearing, he raised a fist as he often does, and supporters raised theirs back, with some shouting ""shame on you" at the court. WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson called this an outrage, but is looking at the bigger fight down th road: extradition to the US.

Hrafnsson told reporters this is "a question of life and death" for Assange, and "also a question of life and death for a major journalist principle". Indeed it is. The whole premise for the US charges are a joke, as they can apply to many journalists, yet are only being hung on Assange due to his effective publishing of damning material about the US government.

Sadly, this is where sayings like "no good deed goes unpunished" come from. Assange is being punished for the the crime of exposing criminals.

---

Thank you for your time and attention. Peace.

---

_{If you appreciate and value the content, please consider: Upvoting, Sharing or Reblogging below.
me for more content to come!}

---

Like what I do? Then consider giving me a vote on the Witness page :) Thanks!

_{My goal is to share knowledge, truth and moral understanding in order to help change the world for the better. If you appreciate and value what I do, please consider supporting me as a Steem Witness by voting for me at the bottom of the Witness page.}

---

Posted from KURE