Roman Polanski extradition hearing announced for February 25

Roman Polanski is to attend an extradition hearing in Krakow court after the US lodged a request with Poland to have him brought back.

The Polish-born film director has been wanted by US police since 1977, when he fled the country after being charged with assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

Roman Polanski, 81, has been working in Poland to prepare for a film he wants to shoot later this year.

The hearing will take place in Krakow on February 25.

Even if the court rules Roman Polanski should be extradited, the justice minister can approve or reject the decision.

Roman Polanski’s lawyer Jan Olszewski confirmed his client would be there.

Prosecutors in Poland refused a US request to arrest Roman Polanski in October but see no legal obstacles to the extradition.

If the Polish court agrees to the extradition, a final decision would be taken by the Polish justice minister.

It appears unlikely Poland would allow Roman Polanski to be extradited, where he is viewed by many as one of the country’s greatest living artists.

The Rosemary’s Baby director was held in Switzerland in 2009 after travelling to Zurich to pick up a prize at a film festival.

However, the extradition bid failed and he was eventually allowed to return to his home in France.

Roman Polanski has been to Poland several times in recent years.

In 2010, the Polish prosecutor general said Roman Polanski could not be extradited because under Polish law too much time had passed since the offences.

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