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Assange's Stay In Embassy Has Cost British Taxpayers $17 Million

Hugh Pickens writes:

Harriet Alexander reports in The Telegraph that Julian Assange's three-year stay in the Ecuadorian embassy has cost British taxpayers more than $17 million for around the clock. police surveillance at the embassy. The Metropolitan Police refused to discuss how many policemen were deployed to the embassy, but they did confirm the cost. The Met said the figure included $10.3m of what they termed "opportunity costs" – police officer pay costs that would be incurred in normal duties – and $4.3m of additional costs such as police overtime. A further $1.7m was put down to "indirect costs" such as administration. Assange challenged his extradition order to Sweden through the courts, but when his appeals failed he absconded and sought refuge inside the embassy of Ecuador – a country whose president has spoken publicly of his support for the 43-year-old computer hacker. Ecuador granted him asylum in August 2012, but as soon as he sets foot outside the building Britain will deport him to Sweden. He has been indoors ever since.

The Swedish director of public prosecutions, Marianne Ny, has grown impatient. In March she said that she would consent, reluctantly, to interview Assange inside the embassy – because the statute of limitations for some of the alleged crimes runs out in August. "Now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies to the investigation and likewise take the risk that the interview does not move the case forward, particularly as there are no other measures on offer without Assange being present in Sweden."

WikiLeaks Publishes New Sony Documents and Saudi Cables

takyon writes:

WikiLeaks has added 276,394 new Sony documents to its online searchable database. The site has also uploaded 61,205 documents and cables leaked from the Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministry:

The dump "Sony Files Part 2," appears to coincide with a major social media push from WikiLeaks regarding the three-year anniversary of its founder Julian Assange's stay at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he is remaining to avoid extradition.

The entire library of files in now searchable on WikiLeaks' site where users are able to delve through though all of the emails and documents.

Shortly after publishing the new data, WikiLeaks tweeted a helpful hint to those scouring the documents for information, pointing its Twitter followers to a collection of files that it said showed evidence of "legal entanglements" for Sony Pictures, "including an investigation for bribery."

A press release on WikiLeaks asserted that the 61,205 documents and cables leaked Friday would be the first publication of many for "The Saudi Cables." The group, led by Julian Assange, says it will release over half a million documents in batches over the upcoming weeks.

"The Saudi Cables lift the lid on a increasingly erratic and secretive dictatorship that has not only celebrated its 100th beheading this year, but which has also become a menace to its neighbours and itself," said Assange in the press release.

WikiLeaks announced that internal reports from Saudi government organizations and communications between Saudi embassies across the globe will be included in the documents. The press release states the Saudi Cables "provide key insights into the Kingdom's operations and how it has managed its alliances and consolidated its position as a regional Middle East superpower, including through bribing and co-opting key individuals and institutions."

The group did not attribute the documents to a source directly. The press release did note that the Saudi Foreign Ministry acknowledged a computer network breach in May, and a group called the Yemeni Cyber Army afterward began releasing "sample" classified material to various websites.

Previously:

WikiLeaks Publishes "The Sony Archives"
WikiLeaks Publishes Transcripts of German Inquiry into NSA and BND