Raggle-taggle of 'household names' supplied huge sums in direction of WikiLeaks founder's failed bail plea
The by now curious circumstance of Julian Assange took yet another weird twist yesterday once the courtroom realized that a raggle-taggle of "household names" were ready to stake their popularity in his case, providing sureties towards the court which has a total worth of £180,000.
Regardless of claiming to not know Assange, the film-maker Ken Loach as well as the socialite and charity fundraiser Jemima Khan stood prior to Westminster magistrates and provided big sums in direction of Assange's bail, although bail was later refused.
Providing £20,000, Loach stated he did not know Assange other than by reputation, but extra: "I think the function he has done continues to be a public service. I feel we're entitled to understand the dealings of individuals that govern us."
Khan offered an additional £20,000, "or much more if will need be".
Inside a assertion later, she mentioned: "I make no judgment of Julian Assange as a person as I have by no means met him. I'm supplying my support to him as I feel from the universal appropriate to freedom of knowledge and our correct to be instructed the truth."
On her Twitter feed very last month, Khan asked if Assange was "the new Jason Bourne", a reference to the fictional motion hero designed by the thriller writer Robert Ludlum. The post has given that been deleted.
The journalist and filmmaker John Pilger, who also supplied £20,000, explained he knew Assange as being a journalist and personalized friend and had a "very higher regard for him".
The biggest donation of £80,000 was offered by an unknown American relation who didn't wish to be named due to the fact of fear for his safety.
Patricia David, a professor, and the top lawyer Geoffrey Sheen every single offered up £20,000 surety on grounds that they'd invested their lives combating for human rights.
Outside court Pilger mentioned: "This enterprise in Sweden is a travesty; an harmless man features a appropriate to be free of charge.
"Having his freedom taken away is outrageous. Sweden should be ashamed. This isn't justice - this really is outrageous."
He extra: "Behind this he has produced a lot of enemies, the principal one particular currently being the warmonger, america."
Howard Riddle, the judge on the courtroom in Horseferry Street, London, commended 4 from the sureties for their willingness to help "out of concern for human rights" and devoid of individual expertise of Assange.
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