娱乐英语新闻:Movie director Polanski's attorneys seek probe into alleged misconduct

LOS ANGELES, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Polish French movie director Roman Polanski's U.S. attorneys again called for an investigation into alleged judicial and prosecutorial misconduct following the Swiss government's announcement that they would not extradite the renowned moviemaker to Los Angeles.

In a statement release on Tuesday, the attorneys said they were urging "a thorough investigation of the facts and circumstances of this case, including into the reasons why the specific request for information made by the Swiss was not honored."

They call for a fair and impartial third party, including a commission appointed by the California Governor's office or the attorney general, to conduct the probe, and the results should be made public.

File photo of film director Roman Polanski presenting his musical 'Tanz der Vampire' ('Dance of the Vampires') in Oberhausen September 29, 2008. Polanski was arrested on his arrival in Switzerland September 26, 2009, at the request of U.S. authorities for a 1978 warrant. He was due to receive an award at the Zurich Film Festival today.

The Swiss authorities has released the director, after refusing to hand him over to the U.S. authorities for trial for his role in a three-decade-old felony.

Laura Sweeney, spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice, said federal officials were also "very disappointed" in the Swiss action. In a rely to Xinhua, she said the U.S. government has exhausted all resources to secure Polanski's extradition. Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said they would persist in seeking the director's prosecution.

Polanski, who won an Oscar in 2002 for directing "The Pianist," was arrested in Switzerland on his way to claim his life-time achievement award at an international film festival late last September in connection with his criminal case in Los Angeles.

He was placed under house arrest at his ski chalet in the Swiss resort of Gstaad after being released from custody in December.

Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. He fled to France in 1978 before he could be sentenced. He has already served 42 days in a Los Angeles Country prison.

The U.S. lodged a formal extradition request at the end of last October.