A Free Man: Julian Assange Setenced To A Period Of Time Served

Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Julian Assange has been setenced to a period of time served with his case declared to have come to an end in Saipan.

Assange faced up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 after pleading guilty to the charge of conspiring to obtain and disclose classifed US documents.

Judge Ramona V Manglona has not imposed any period of supervised release.

“Now there is some peace, you need to restore with yourself when you walk out and pursue your life as a free man,” she said after handing down the sentencing.

An emotional Assanged teared up at the news, hugging his team as the decision was announced.

During proceeding, Assange was asked by Juge Manglona to explain to her what he did that “constitutes to the crime charged” to which Assanged responded:

“Working as a journalist I encouraged my source to provide information that was… said to be classified in order to publish that information,” he said.

“I believed the First Amendment protected that activity, but I accept that it was a violation of the espionage statute.”

He also told the court he was not forced by anyone to plead guilty.

Assange travelled to Saipan early Tuesday morning ahead of the hearing at the US court. The capital of the Mariana islands – a US commonwealth – was chosen as Assange was opposed to travelling to the States.

Saipan is approximately 3,000kms from Australia.

Assange is expected to travel back to Australia sometime Wednesday.