Polish court upholds refusal to extradite Roman Polanski

Poland's supreme court has upheld a refusal to have film-maker Roman Polanski extradited to the US if he enters the country.

Polanski is wanted in the US in a case involving sex with a minor almost 40 years ago. He lives in France and has a home in Switzerland, but has often visited Poland, where he grew up.

The three-judge panel rejected a request by justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro to overturn the extradition refusal and upheld the procedure and decision taken by a lower court. The ruling closes the case.

Pleaded guilty

Polanski wanted to make a film in Poland last year, but cancelled his plans after Mr Ziobro’s move. The justice minister revived the case in May, months after the conservative government took office.

Mr Ziobro argued that Polanski should be punished and that his celebrity status was the only thing shielding the Oscar-winning director from being extradited.

The lower court had argued Polanski (83), has served a prison term, while he would probably not get a fair trial in the US if he was extradited.

The director pleaded guilty in 1977 to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl during a photo shoot in Los Angeles.

In a deal with the judge, he served 42 days in prison, but then fled the US fearing the judge would have him imprisoned again for much longer.

The US has been seeking to bring Polanski back and put him before a court.

– AP