Wednesday 01 May 2019 12:00 pm

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange given 50 weeks in prison for skipping bail

Julian Assange was this morning sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching bail by hiding out in the Ecuadorian embassy for seven years.

The Wikileaks founder entered the embassy in 2012, when facing an extradition order to Sweden over allegations of attempted rape.

Assange, who headed the network which released classified US military cables in 2010, told the court he had “strongly held fears” that he would be sent to the US from Sweden and end up being detained in Guantanamo Bay.

“I apologise unreservedly to those who consider I have disrespected them by the way I have pursued my case,” Assange said in a letter read out by his lawyer.

“I found myself struggling with terrifying circumstances. I did at the time what I thought was best.”

The Australian was hit by charges in the US just hours after he was ejected from the Ecuadorian embassy last month.

American prosecutors claimed that he conspired with US soldier Chelsea Manning to hack into government computers. They are asking British authorities to hand him over to face trial in the US.

Wikileaks has confirmed that there will be an extradition hearing in London tomorrow.

“On Thursday at 10am there will be a hearing in Westminster Magistrate Court on the US extradition request,” it said.

Manning herself served seven years in a US prison before being pardoned by then President Barack Obama as one of his last acts in office.

The Wikileaks founder had found refuge in Ecuador’s embassy during the reign of former President Rafael Correa, who supported the leak of US documents.

However, after a long deterioration in relations, and suspicions that Assange was fuelling corruption allegations against new President Lenin Moreno, his hosts turned him over to British authorities.

Wikileaks has strongly denied that Assange was responsible for leaks of damaging information against Moreno, which included a photograph of him eating a lobster in bed, embarrassing the President who is preaching austerity.