Polanski appears in court for extradition hearing

Warsaw, Feb 25 (IANS/EFE) 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.

--IANS/EFE

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