Raggle-taggle of ‘household names’ supplied massive sums in the direction of WikiLeaks founder’s failed bail plea


The currently curious case of Julian Assange took one more bizarre twist yesterday when the court realized that a raggle-taggle of “household names” have been prepared to stake their popularity in his case, offering sureties for the courtroom using a whole value of £180,000.

Regardless of claiming not to 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 the direction of Assange’s bail, even though bail was  later refused.

Providing £20,000, Loach said he did not know Assange aside from by status, but extra: “I feel the operate he has carried out has been a public service. I assume we’re entitled to know the dealings of these that govern us.”

Khan offered a further £20,000, “or much more if require be”.

Inside a statement later, she mentioned: “I make no judgment of Julian Assange as a person as I have in no way met him. I’m providing my assist to him as I believe from the universal correct to freedom of data and our appropriate to be advised the truth.”

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

The journalist and filmmaker John Pilger, who also offered £20,000, mentioned he knew Assange as a journalist and personalized good friend and had a “very higher regard for him”.

The largest donation of £80,000 was provided by an unknown American relation who didn’t need to be named simply because of fear for his safety.

Patricia David, a professor, and also the prime lawyer Geoffrey Sheen every single presented up £20,000 surety on grounds that they’d spent their lives combating for human rights.

Outside courtroom Pilger said: “This business in Sweden is often a travesty; an harmless man includes a appropriate to be free.

“Having his freedom taken absent is outrageous. Sweden should be ashamed. This is not justice - this really is outrageous.”

He additional: “Behind this he has produced lots of enemies, the principal 1 currently being the warmonger, america.”

Howard Riddle, the judge at the court in Horseferry Street, London, commended 4 with the sureties for their willingness to help “out of concern for human rights” and without individual information of Assange.