arrest in absence?

以下はWikileaks創立者の逮捕に関するニュースからの引用です。
arrest in his absence というのはどういう意味でしょうか？
逮捕状を発行するのではなく、彼不在のまま既に逮捕したということなのでしょうか？

The court also ordered Assange arrested in his absence, which requires Swedish authorities anywhere in the world to detain Assange if they come across him. Sweden's director of prosecutions, Marianne Ny, had requested the arrest in absence.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/11/18/s …

No.1 ベストアンサー 回答者： SPS700 回答日時： 2010/11/19 12:43

Sweden orders arrest of WikiLeaks founder

www.cnn.com 11 hours ago The Stockholm Criminal Court on Thursday issued an international arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on probable cause, saying he is suspected of rape, sexual molestation and illegal use of force.

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=arrest+in+absence&page= …

　上記だと、本人不在だが逮捕状が出されたと言う事ですね。