Following A$AP Rocky‘s recent temporary release from prison in Sweden, CNN has obtained documents of a letter written by the US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Robert C. O’Brien which leaked on Twitter last weekend. The letter stated that the US was eager "to resolve this case as soon as possible to avoid potentially negative consequences to the US-Swedish bilateral relationship."
Sweden’s Prosecutor-General, Petra Lundh, responded on August 1 saying:
"No other prosecutor, not even I, may interfere with a specific case or try to affect the prosecutor responsible. Furthermore, when a person is charged and the case is brought before a court, only the court can decide, during or after the trial, whether or not to release the person or decide on supervised detention."
A$AP Rocky’s case has been receiving a tremendous amount of support over the past month. He and the other suspects will be receiving a full verdict on August 14, for which they must return to Sweden.
Read the full leaked documents below:
Stockholm, Sweden
July 31, 2019Prosecution Authority of the Kingdom of Sweden:
On behalf of the US. Government, I present my compliments to the Prosecution Authority of the Kingdom of Sweden and with respect to the upcoming legal proceedings in the case of detained American citizens Rakim Mayers, David Rispers, and Bladimir Corniel, the US. Government requests the following:
-Immediate humanitarian release from the current Kronoberg Remand Prison.
-Supervised detention in a local Stockholm hotel pending final disposition of the case.I take this opportunity to remind the Prosecution Authority of the commitment by President Trump to Prime Minister Stefan Lovfen that the three Americans will remain in Sweden if granted a humanitarian release.
As Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, I stressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice officials on July 29, 2019, the government of the United States of America wants to resolve this case as soon as possible to avoid potentially negative consequences to the U.S.~Swedish bilateral relationship.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to the Prosecution Authority of the Kingdom of Sweden the assurances of my highest consideration.
Very truly yours,
Ambassador Robert O’Brien
Special Presidential EnvoyThe Prosecution Authority of Sweden,
Stockholm.
The following letter is Lundh’s response to O’Brien:
Ambassador Robert O’Brien
Special Presidential EnvoyDear Mr. Ambassador
I have received Your letter and carefully taken part of Your concerns and requests regarding the American citizens and the case You are referring to.
According to the Swedish Constitution, a Swedish prosecutor is independent in his or her tasks to investigate crimes, to decide whether or not to instigate legal proceedings and to appear in court.
This means that no other prosecutor, not even I, may interfere with a specific case or try to affect the prosecutor responsible for the case in how he or she should decide or otherwise act with regard to the case.
Furthermore, when a person is charged and. the case is brought before a court, only the court can decide, during or after the trial, whether or not to release the person or decide on supervised detention.
I fully respect Your commitment in representing Your citizens but as I have explained above, I am unable to and therefore not take any action to accommodate Your requests.
Yours sincerely,
Petra Lundh
Prosecutor-General of Sweden
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