The Polish prosecutor who argued the case for extradition on behalf of the United States did not immediately say whether there would be an appeal.
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Prosecutors have spent years attempting to have Polanski sent back for punishment and previously had a 2014 extradition request rejected by Polish officials.
“Our position on this matter remains the same”, said Shiara Davila-Morales, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which has continued to pursue Polanski. Should the court make a legally binding decision to grant the USA request, it will be up to the justice minister to decide on whether to hand the Polanski over.
AGENCJA GAZETA/REUTERS Roman Polanski, 83, fled the United States almost 40 years ago to avoid prison time.
Mazur said it was clear Polanski was guilty and deserved to be punished.
Polanski was accused of plying his then-13-year-old victim with champagne and drugs at a Los Angeles photo shoot, taking topless photos and having sex with her. He pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor in 1977 and served 42 days in prison.
Judge Dariusz Mazur, who ruled in Krakow, where Polanski has his apartment, said the case was very complicated but an extradition would violate Polanski’s human rights because he could be held in confinement while it was happening. She said the agency would have no further comment. He won an Academy Award for best director for his 2002 film “The Pianist” and was nominated for 1974’s “Chinatown” and 1979’s “Tess”.
He said the defendant’s rights had often been curtailed, judges had failed to live up to standards of judicial independence and Polanski had already been sufficiently punished.
Polanski’s movements are restricted by an Interpol warrant in effect in 188 countries, but he is avoiding extradition by remaining only in France, Poland and Switzerland. Geimer said the 40-year saga has been bad for her and her family. “There will always be someone who wants to promote themselves on a case attracting wide attention”.
“This is not about justice or the interest of the victim”, lawyer Jan Olszewski said.
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Polanski appeared, too, to refer to this, saying: “If any decision were to be based on facts, there are so many elements in the case that are in my favor, that I see no risk”. “But, should it be a political decision – I should be anxious”.
