Julian Assange is expected to plead guilty before a court on the Pacific island of Saipan – where he is on his way now – on Wednesday, for a charge that will let him walk free and go back home to Australia after 14 years of legal battles.
WHERE IS SAIPAN?
The Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) are a US commonwealth and Saipan serves as its capital. They begin about 70 kilometers (44 miles) north of Guam, covering 14 islands.
Like Guam or Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands are US territories with a special status. Their dwellers are American citizens but cannot participate in voting during presidential elections. Additionally, some such as Saipan also have US district courts.
Assange’s court appearance will be on Wednesday at 9am local time (2300 GMT Tuesday).
WHY IS ASSANGE HEADING THERE?
US prosecutors said Assange wanted to go to a court close to his home of Australia but not on the continental United States.
Saipan has the advantage over other places by being relatively closer than others, including Hawaii which is located more than twice as far from Assange’s homeland Australia- roughly 3,000 km (1800 miles) away.
Emily Crawford who teaches at University of Sydney law school explained that “He has to front up to charges that have bee brought under US law.”
“It had to be US territory but it had to be the US territory closest to Australia that wasn’t a US state like Hawaii.”
SAIPAN AND THE UNITED STATES
The United States took control of the island in World War Two after the Battle of Saipan in 1944 following stints under Spain, Germany and Japan.
Inhabitants chose to become part of United States in 1975 when they voted for this option after several decades under America’s dominance.
For instance: voters elected their first delegate from Northern Mariana Islands to the US House of Representatives in 2008 but this delegate has no voting rights in Congress.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
According to US prosecutors, Assange has agreed to plead guilty to a single criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defense documents. This was announce as a sentence for time served (62 months). After sentencing, he is expected to be returned to Australia.
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