Polasnki attorneys: Swiss should not trust extradition paperwork filed by LA prosecutors

Don’t trust extradition filing, Polanski argues

LOS ANGELES — Roman Polanski’s attorneys argued in court filings Friday that the Swiss government should not automatically assume an extradition request by Los Angeles prosecutors is accurate.

The statement is in response to a comment by a Swiss justice official, who told The Associated Press last month that officials there assume facts in an extradition request are correct. The official said the justice ministry was not interested in the transcripts of testimony offered in secret earlier this year by the former prosecutor who handled Polanski’s case.

Polanski’s attorneys contend the transcripts will show the extradition papers contain information prosecutors know is “false and materially incomplete.”

The filing also argues that prosecutors want the Swiss to only consider what’s included in official court records and ignore other evidence that proves misconduct in the case.

Los Angeles County District Attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons says the office won’t comment, but will argue their position during a hearing Monday.

The office has opposed the transcripts’ release, stating in a filing Thursday that they should only become public once Polanski is returned to Los Angeles. They say the Oscar-winning director’s request should be rejected because he remains a fugitive.

Prosecutors want Polanski returned for sentencing on a 33-year-old unlawful sexual intercourse charge.

He pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl and fled in 1978 on the eve of sentencing after a judge said in private remarks that he intended to renege on a sentencing agreement.

The “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby” director remains on house arrest at his chalet in the Swiss resort of Gstaad.

Swiss authorities have not said when they will rule on the extradition filing.