WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was remanded in custody in London yesterday after appearing in court on an extradition warrant.

'Sex by surprise' at the heart of Assange case

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was remanded in custody in London yesterday after appearing in court on an extradition warrant.

The 39-year-old Australian, who is wanted in Sweden over allegations he sexually assaulted two women, was refused bail on the grounds there was a risk he would fail to surrender.

The action comes a week and a half after the release of State Department cables to news organisations and via the Internet, which will continue according to the Wikileaks Twitter feed.
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"Today's actions against our editor-in-chief Julian Assange won't affect our operations," the tweet said.

Assange is being held on a "sex by surprise" charge. He has not been arrested for rape; the sex in question was consensual.

Apparently, the issue is whether or not a condom was used and whether the woman requested one. The charge, only part of the Swedish criminal code and not the UK, carries a fine of 5,000 kronor, or R32,000.

The charges

Gemma Lindfield, representing the Swedish authorities, told the court he was wanted in connection with four allegations.

The first complainant, a Miss A, said she was the victim of "unlawful coercion" on the night of 14 August in Stockholm.

The court heard Assange was alleged to have "forcefully" held her arms and parted her legs and used his bodyweight to hold her down.
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The second charge alleged he "sexually molested" her by having sex without using a condom, when it was her "express wish" that one should be used.

A third charge claimed Assange "deliberately molested" Miss A on August 18 by "pressing his naked erect penis against her body".

A fourth charge, relating to a Miss W, alleged that on August 17, he "improperly exploited" the fact she was asleep to have sex with her without a condom.