LONDON — A United Nations panel today determined that WikiLeaks founder and alleged sex offender Julian Assange is being "arbitrarily detained" at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, reported the BBC.
In general, arbitrary detention is when someone is deprived of their liberty through no proper process of law.
The 44-year-old Australian said earlier today he would have have turned himself over to British authorities this week if the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled against his request. Reports from British media today suggest that the panel will rule in his favor
Assange has been holed up inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations against him. Police officers maintained a 24-hour presence outside the embassy from when Assange sought refuge there in June of 2012 until October.
In 2014 Assange complained to the U.N. about being arbitrarily detained, as he can't exit the embassy without being arrested, reported the BBC.
Earlier today the hacker said that if the court ruled in his favor, he expects the authorities to return his passport and not arrest him. However, the UN panel holds no formal power over the British or Swedish courts, and a warrant for his arrest still remains in place.
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