Assange's Legal Defense Fears Fake Evidence Could Be Planted At Ecuador Embassy

The legal defense of founder of the WikiLeaks whistleblowing website Julian Assange fears that Ecuador's government could plant evidence for UK police to find in his room in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange's Ecuadorian lawyer Carlos Poveda told Sputnik

MONTEVIDEO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th May, 2019) The legal defense of founder of the WikiLeaks whistleblowing website Julian Assange fears that Ecuador's government could plant evidence for UK police to find in his room in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange's Ecuadorian lawyer Carlos Poveda told Sputnik.

Later on Monday, the UK police will search the former room of Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London as well as seize documents of the arrested whistleblower. The search is authorized by the Ecuadorian authorities at the US request.

"The Ecuadorian government may plant evidence against Assange in order to get him extradited to the United States. I will not mention any Names but that is clear that the [Ecuadorian] state is responsible for that," the lawyer said.

Assange was arrested in the UK capital on April 11, after Ecuador revoked his asylum status. He was then sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for jumping his bail back in 2012, when he took refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault investigation that has been dropped. The United States is seeking Assange's extradition on charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.

The United States has to provide London with all necessary documents for Assange's extradition until June 12.

Assange's lawyers and supporters fear that he could be charged under the Espionage Act in the United States and face death penalty.