Julian Assange lands in Bangkok and heads to the US court via a Pacific Island
- Julian Assange has landed in Bangkok airport for a stopover.
- He is set to head to the US court by traveling to a little-known Pacific island.
- Assange's legal journey unfolds amid international intrigue.
A plane believed to be carrying Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, landed at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok on Tuesday, June 25. Assange is set to plead guilty on Wednesday to violating US espionage law, marking the end of his 14-year legal battle. The 52-year-old has agreed to plead guilty to a single criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defense documents, according to court filings in the US District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. He is expected to be sentenced to 62 months of time already served at a hearing in Saipan on Wednesday. Assange left Belmarsh prison in the UK on Monday, was bailed by the UK High Court, and boarded a flight to Saipan. The decision to hold the plea and sentencing in Saipan, a little-known island in the Pacific, was due to Assange's opposition to traveling to the mainland US and the island's proximity to Australia, his home country. The move was seen as a strategic decision to avoid potential severe penalties in the US mainland, such as the death penalty or life imprisonment. Saipan, the capital of the territory and its largest island, has historical significance as a former colony of Spain, Germany, and Japan. It served as a strategic point during World War II. Assange's legal team feared the consequences of him going to the US mainland, leading to the decision to hold the proceedings in Saipan. Following the plea and sentencing, Assange is expected to return to Australia, as reported by Australian public broadcaster ABC. The development surrounding Assange's case has drawn attention globally, with speculations on the implications of his guilty plea and the choice of Saipan for the legal proceedings. The move to end his imprisonment in Britain and potentially allow his return to Australia marks a significant chapter in Assange's legal saga, which has spanned over a decade. The outcome of the hearing in Saipan will determine the next steps in this high-profile case.