Polish authorities confirmed that they received an extradition request from U.S. prosecutors, asking that the Polish-French director be returned to the country he fled in 1978. At that time, he was facing a jail term after pleading guilty to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl. Polanski, then in his 40s, absconded and has lived in France ever since.
The U.S. sent Poland the extradition request because Polanski, now 81, has been visiting Krakow, where he will film his next movie.
Polish authorities detained and questioned Polanski last October in Warsaw on a U.S.-issued warrant, but he was not arrested. At that time, however, the U.S. had not made an extradition request.
— Afton Theatre (@AftonTheatre) January 5, 2015
Despite the U.S.’ demands, Polanski’s lawyers believe nothing has changed in the case.
“In our view no new circumstances have arisen which could lead to a change in the decision by the prosecutor’s office in October,” Jerzy Stachowicz, one of Polanski’s Polish lawyers, told Reuters.
According to Polish Justice Ministry Spokesman Mateusz Martyniuk, the Polish statute of limitations does not apply to U.S. requests, meaning Polanski could be returned to the states.
Following his conviction more than 35 years ago, Polanski spent 42 days undergoing psychiatric evaluation in a California prison. He was released, then fled after the judge ordered that he return to prison and serve the remainder of a 90-day sentence behind bars.
Last month, Polanski’s lawyers alleged that the judge in the original case was guilty of misconduct, and unsuccessfully sought to have the case dismissed.
