A REPORT that a Swedish police officer involved in investigating allegations against Julian Assange was friends with one of his accusers raises ''very serious'' concerns, the WikiLeaks founder's lawyer says.

''If it is true, then it is highly inappropriate,'' said Bjoern Hurtig, Assange's Swedish defence lawyer.

The Expressen daily reported that an unnamed female officer in charge of questioning the two alleged victims, who have accused Assange of rape and molestation, had internet contact with one of them more than a year before the case surfaced in August.

Police could not be reached for comment on the report, but the alleged victims' lawyer, Claes Borgstroem, said ''there are numerous faulty facts'' in the Expressen article. ''This is a minor matter. It has no impact on the case,'' he said.

Mr Hurtig said he would request information on whether the officer and one of Assange's accusers had also been in telephone and text message contact during the course of the investigation.