Raggle-taggle of ‘household names’ supplied big sums in direction of WikiLeaks founder’s failed bail plea

The by now curious situation of Julian Assange took yet another weird twist yesterday once the court learned that a raggle-taggle of “household names” had been prepared to stake their popularity in his case, providing sureties to the courtroom with a complete value of £180,000.

Despite claiming to not know Assange, the film-maker Ken Loach and the socialite and charity fundraiser Jemima Khan stood before Westminster magistrates and offered huge  sums in the direction of Assange’s bail, though bail was  later refused.

Providing £20,000, Loach mentioned he didn’t know Assange other than by status, but extra: “I feel the work he has completed continues to be a public service. I assume we are entitled to know the dealings of individuals that govern us.”

Khan presented an extra £20,000, “or far more if want be”.

Inside a statement later, she said: “I make no judgment of Julian Assange as an individual as I have never ever met him. I am supplying my assistance to him as I feel from the universal appropriate to freedom of knowledge and our appropriate to become instructed the reality.”

On her Twitter feed last month, Khan requested if Assange was “the new Jason Bourne”, a reference towards the fictional motion hero developed by the thriller writer Robert Ludlum. The submit has since been deleted.

The journalist and filmmaker John Pilger, who also offered £20,000, explained he knew Assange as being a journalist and individual pal and had a “very excessive regard for him”.

The largest donation of £80,000 was provided by an unknown American relation who didn’t need to be named because of fear for his safety.

Patricia David, a professor, along with the leading lawyer Geoffrey Sheen every provided up £20,000 surety on grounds that they had invested their lives combating for human rights.

Exterior court Pilger said: “This organization in Sweden is a travesty; an harmless man features a proper to be totally free.

“Having his freedom taken away is outrageous. Sweden should be ashamed. This is not justice – this really is outrageous.”

He added: “Behind this he has made lots of enemies, the principal one particular currently being the warmonger, the united states.”

Howard Riddle, the decide in the court in Horseferry Street, London, commended 4 with the sureties for his or her willingness to help “out of concern for human rights” and devoid of individual understanding of Assange.