June 03, 2019 "Information Clearing House" - A Swedish court has rejected a request to arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in absentia, dashing prosecutors' hopes of having him swiftly extradited from the United Kingdom over an allegation of rape. 

The Uppsala District Court, in a ruling on Monday, said the fact that Assange was currently in prison in Britain meant he did not need to be formally arrested and held under Swedish law to be questioned by Swedish prosecutors.

"As Julian Assange is currently serving a prison sentence, the investigation can proceed with the help of a European investigation order, which does not require Julian Assange's detention [in Sweden]. The court therefore does not find it proportional to detain Julian Assange," it said in a statement.

Eva-Marie Persson, Swedish deputy director of public prosecutions, had argued that the 47-year-old had not cooperated with the Swedish investigation previously, fleeing from an extradition order, and therefore needed to be arrested and questioned in Sweden.

Assange denies the allegations, which date back to 2010.

Monday's ruling means the Swedish prosecutor cannot at this stage request Assange's extradition from Britain.