Filmworld
Polanski appears in court for extradition hearing
Warsaw, Feb 25
French-Polish director
Roman Polanski Wednesday testified before a court in Krakow that is
hearing a US extradition request so that the filmmaker can be prosecuted
for the alleged sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl in California in
1977.
The court had previously noted that it would not reach its
final decision on the extradition request Wednesday, adding that the
process would be delayed because of the need to translate case
documents.
Under Polish law, even if the judge rules in favour of
the US request for extradition, Polish Justice Minister Grabarczyk
Czesary will have the final say on greenlighting the process.
If the court refuses to extradite the filmmaker, the decision will be final and binding.
The
Oscar-winning director appeared in court in a closed hearing, according
to his lawyer's request, to safeguard his privacy in light of the
intense media interest in the case.
In Wednesday's hearing, it is
expected that Polish prosecutors present the reasons why they have
begun processing the request for extradition by the US, in addition to
hearing the claims raised by the director's defence attorneys.
The
extradition request was filed last January, and after being admitted by
the Krakow prosecution, it was referred to the competent court in the
same city.
In recent months, Polanski has been spending lengthy
periods of time in Krakow, where he is preparing to shoot a new film
while renting the apartment he lived in as a child.