Julian Assange could be cleared of sex assault claims while still in Ecuadorian embassy in London

The WikiLeaks founder has been holed up at the Knightsbridge embassy since 2012, with the cost of round-the-clock policing estimated at more than £12 million
In hiding: Julian Assange has emerged on the balcony at the embassy for media appearances
(Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)
Sebastian Mann12 August 2015

Sex assault allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange - who has spent more the three years holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy - are set to expire while he remains hiding in London.

The development could effectively leave the 44-year-old hacker cleared of the claims- which he faces in Sweden.

Prosecutors in the country today confirmed three of the four allegations made against him in 2010 would reach the five-year expiry date, set out under the country's statute of limitations, within the next week.

Mr Assange has been living at the Ecuadorian embassy in the capital since being granted asylum more than three years ago while fighting extradition from the UK.

His legal team has estimated the cost of the round-the-clock policing of the embassy in Knightsbridge at more than £12 million.

The Australian is wanted for questioning over the sex claims by two women in Sweden - which he denies - but fears being extradited to the United States over secret documents published by the whistleblowing organisation.

A spokeswoman for the Swedish Proescution Authority said one allegation of sexual molestation and one of unlawful coercion would expire on Thursday, while another of sexual molestation would expire on Tuesday August 18.

But an allegation of rape will not expire until 2020, the spokeswoman added, meaning the legal impasse could remain.

Mr Assange has previously said he agreed to be interviewed by Swedish authorities inside the embassy but he claimed in June the country's chief prosecutor had cancelled an interview appointment.

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The SPA spokeswoman said: "The prosecutor still wants to interview him. The prosecutor still has not got permission from Ecuador."

But a WikiLeaks spokesman said it would be "absolutely ridiculous" if the rape case was to remain open.

Kristinn Hrafnsson told the Times: "It's quite obvious that the Swedish authorities waited all these years. He doesn't have to clear his name. He has been asking to be interviewed in London for five years - he has asked for this to be moved forward.

Claes Borgstrom, a lawyer representing one of the alleged victims, called the expiration of the allegations an "injustice".

Additional reporting by PA

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