A court in Poland has ruled out the extradition of Roman Polanski, who plead guilty in 1977 to the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
The Polish-born director, 83, is said he is "very happy that this case is coming to a close," reports AP.
"I can breathe now with relief," he added, speaking at a press conference in Krakow. "I pleaded guilty. I went to prison. I have done my penalty. The case is closed."
Judge Dariusz Mazur explained that extradition would violate Polanski's human rights as he may be subject to confinement.
"I find no rational answer to the question: what is the real point of the U.S. extradition request?" said Mazur, who argued that Polankski had served his time during a 42-day US prison stint in 1977 and 10 months of house arrest in Switzerland - where US prosecutors unsuccessfully sought extradition.
Polanski's time in Chino State Prison in California was part of a psychiatric evaluation, after which he believed he would receive a probationary sentence. However, when his legal team later suggested he would face a longer prison term and deportation, he fled to London in February 1978.
According to AP, the judge accused US prosecutors and judges of violating legal procedures, bias, breaking a 1977 plea bargain, and denying Polanski the right to proper defense.
It is not yet clear whether the decision will be appealed.
Polanski received an Academy Award for Best Director for The Pianist (2002), and has had a celebrated Hollywood career spanning several decades - including Rosemary's Baby (1968) and Chinatown (1974).
