REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
The decision to release Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was upheld by a senior court judge Thursday pending his extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations.
Assange was granted bail on Tuesday by Westminster Magistrates Court, but an appeal was lodged against the decision. However, Assange may not walk free until Friday as the £240,000 surety (about $378,480) must be delivered to the court. Before the hearing began, Assange’s lawyer Mark Stephens said he was confident the money was “within the banking system”.
(Assange: Readers Choice for TIME’s Person of the Year 2010)
Bail conditions are quite stringent and it is understood the 39-year old Australian may have to wear an electronic tag and report to police up to twice daily. Assange must stay at a country house in Suffolk, which is owned by Vaughan Smith, the founder of the Frontline Club, a journalism members club based in west London.
(See TIME’s exclusive interview with Julian Assange.)
Although this court proceeding wasn’t connected to WikiLeaks recent release of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, Assange argues he’s being wrongly prosecuted because of those leaks.