The stepson of Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak pleaded not guilty on Friday to laundering 248 million (US dollars) from the 1MDB state investment fund, becoming the third person in his family to face charges in the scandal.

Hollywood producer Riza Aziz was freed on bail a day after being detained by anti-graft officials.

He was solemn as he appeared in court to be charged with receiving the illicit funds between 2011 and 2012 in the U.S. and Singapore.

The charge sheets said the money was misappropriated from 1MDB and channeled into bank accounts of his Hollywood company Red Granite Pictures Inc., which produced films including the Martin Scorsese-directed "The Wolf of Wall Street."

Riza, 42, was charged with five counts of money laundering, and he could face up to five years in prison, a fine or both, on each count if he is convicted.

Najib is now on trial for graft after his electoral defeat. His wife Rosmah Mansor has also pleaded not guilty to money laundering linked to 1MDB.

Kuala Lumpur - 5 July 2019

1. Wide of media surrounding producer Riza Aziz

2. Various of Aziz leaving the courthouse, escorted by lawyers and security

3. Courthouse lobby glass door

4. Various exteriors of the courthouse

5. Security outside the courthouse

SHOTLIST

1. Flight arrival board showing Edison Chen's flight at Singapore Changi Airport

2. Media waiting at Arrival Hall

3. Various of news article on Edison Chen's in Singapore newspaper

4. Media interviewing Edison Chen fan

5. Edison Chen fan holding newspaper

6. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Jiang Ke Liang, Edison Chen's fan:

"Everybody will have sex. As a matter of fact, a lot of lovers will take pictures of each other. He did not release the pictures of his own free will after all. I feel that it was OK. I envy the female artists in the pictures."

7. Various of Edison Chen arriving at Grand Hyatt Hotel

8. Pan shot of crowd outside Grand Hyatt Hotel

9. Edison Chen getting ready for an event

10. Various of Edison Chen launching new Carl's Jr burger

11. Various of Edison Chen at the event

12. Chen leaving

STORYLINE:

Actor Edison Chen arrived in Singapore for a string of product launch events after appearing in a Canadian court on Monday over a sex photo scandal.

Chen appeared at a Carl's Jr. food product launch event in Singapore under heavy security and surrounded by media.

The Chinese-Canadian film star's private sex pictures with several Hong Kong starlets set off an Internet firestorm in 2008.

The scandal dominated headlines for weeks early last year, prompting Chen to make a public apology in February 2008 and take a break from the industry.

Chen resurfaced in Vancouver, Canada on Monday to testify against the computer technician who allegedly stole the photos from his laptop when it was being serviced.

The unusual hearing was held to get Chen's testimony for the trial of Ho Chun Sze in China.

Sze faces three counts of obtaining access to a computer with illegal intent for allegedly stealing the private photos from Chen's computer.

Chen refused to return to Hong Kong to testify.

Some of the pages hosting the photos of Chen received more than 25 (m) million hits, and the fan feeding frenzy crashed the web in Hong Kong.

When he was asked if he will return to the Chinese film business, Chen said he wouldn't until the case was resolved.

Meanwhile his new movie will debut next month. It will be the star's first since the scandal.

The action thriller "The Sniper" will have its world premiere at the Hong Kong International Film Festival on March 24, according to the Hong Kong event's programme released Thursday.

"The Sniper" finished shooting in 2007 and was originally scheduled to be released in March 2008, but was put on hold after Chen's scandal broke.

Another of Chen's Chinese-language movies, the romance "Jump," was also shelved.

The actor also had a brief cameo in the Hollywood blockbuster "The Dark Knight," which was released in July.

FEDS SEEK MONTH IN JAIL FOR FELICITY HUFFMAN IN COLLEGE PLOT

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence ``Desperate Housewives'' star Felicity Huffman to a month in jail for her role in the sweeping college admissions bribery scandal.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling's office recommended in filings Friday (06SEPT.2019) in Boston federal court that Huffman spend 30 days in jail because she acted ``out of a sense of entitlement, or at least moral cluelessness.''

Huffman's lawyers argued she should get a year of probation, 250 hours of community service and a $20,000 fine instead.

Huffman and her husband, actor William H. Macy, also wrote letters seeking leniency.

Huffman pleaded guilty in May to fraud charges for paying an admissions consultant $15,000 to have a proctor correct her daughter's SAT exam answers.

Huffman is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 13 in Boston federal court.

Boston - 13 May 2019

1. Actress Felicity Huffman, and her brother Moore Huffman, Jr., arriving at federal court in Boston

2. Close of courthouse signage

3. Wide of media outside courthouse

4. Various of police presence outside the courthouse

Los Angeles, 23 February 2019

5. Medium of Felicity Huffman on red carpet

Los Angeles, 16 April 2018

6. Eva Longoria poses with Felicity Huffman, Anna Faris and Ricky Martin

New York, 13 May 2014

7. Various of Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton talking to reporter on carpet

Los Angeles, 7 March 2012

8. Close up, pull out to wide of William Macy and Felicity Huffman unveiling Huffman's Hollywood star

9. Mid shot of William Macy, Felicity Huffman and their two daughters

English/Nat

A Hollywood television producer spent 90 minutes in front of the grand jury investigating President Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

He's one of the Clintons' oldest and closest friends and says he's "always believed the president was telling the truth."

He'll stay over to help Clinton prepare for his own grand jury testimony on Monday.

More comings and goings were under the media spotlight in Washington D-C on Tuesday.

As usual, Kenneth Starr was one of the first players to appear - he had no comment as he headed off for another busy day with the grand jury.

Seen arriving: one of President Clinton's Hollywood buddies, his personal attorney and the Deputy White House counsel.

Presidential friend and T-V producer Harry Thomason may have been asked if Clinton told him anything about the former White House intern.

Clinton's lawyers, meanwhile, are preparing for his testimony on Monday.

A Clinton confidant says one option being considered would have him repeat his denials of sex with Lewinsky.

But, he would refuse to answer specifics about their relationship.

Legal experts say prosecutors could not force Clinton to provide such details since he agreed to testify and Starr withdrew his subpoena.

How the story will unfold is the subject of intense speculation.

Constitutional scholar, practitioner, columnist, and former associate deputy U-S attorney general, Bruce Fein weighed in at the National Press Club.

Do Clinton's alleged misdeeds amount to an impeachable offence?

Fein went on the record with a solid affirmative.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"This investigation is not about marital infidelity it's about constitutional infidelity. A president, unlike others in public life, does set the national standard for honesty, decency, integrity in public life. That is a given fact and when the founding fathers explained that the dispositive question in impeachment was the harm to society they were suggesting -- in my judgement accurately - that the president is held to a higher standard because of his influence on society."

SUPER CAPTION: Bruce Fein

Impeachment of the president is serious democratic business according to Fein.

And there are reasons Congress may not want to deal with impeachment.

But Fein says Congress would have no choice if congressional hearings put the players in front of microphones-- on national T-V.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I do think that once the witnesses-- and I think this would happen if the inquiry began-- started to appear on television, and you can see as we saw in Watergate the counterparts of the Deans, Haldeman, and Ehrlichmans and Mitchells-- their names would be Lewinsky and Linda Tripp and Kathleen Wiley and maybe even the president himself, then that will so pivotally affect public opinion that Congress would be responsive. And I think that's how this should unfold."

SUPER CAPTION: Bruce Fein

Meanwhile the White House is setting aside minute-by-minute security logs, appointment records, phone messages, diary entries.

President Clinton and a trio of attorneys are expected to spend the weekend poring over volumes and staging mock interrogations as they meticulously prepare for Monday's high-stakes face-off with prosecutor Kenneth Starr.

Washington D-C, U-S-A, August 11, 1998

1. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr departing from his home

2. Harry Thomason, presidential friend and T-V director, as he arrives to appear before the grand jury

3. UPSOUND: (English) Harry Thomason

4. Arrival of Clinton's personal attorney David Kendall

5. Arrival of Deputy White House counsel Cheryl Mills

6. Wideshot of national Press Club

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bruce Fein

8. Cutaway

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bruce Fein

10. Cutaway

HACKER OF CELEBRITY PHOTOS GETS 8 MONTHS IN PRISON

A Connecticut man who hacked into more than 200 iCloud accounts of Hollywood stars and other people has been sentenced to eight months in prison.

George Garofano was sentenced Wednesday (29AUG2018) in federal court in Bridgeport. After prison, he must serve three years of supervised release and perform 60 hours of community service.

The North Branford man was one of four men arrested in the 2014 hacking scandal that led to private photos of Jennifer Lawrence, Kirsten Dunst, Kate Upton and others being made public.

Authorities say the hackers used a phishing scheme that sent emails appearing to be from Apple security accounts that asked for usernames and passwords.

Garofano pleaded guilty in April and asked for leniency, saying he faces a lifetime loss of rights because of the felony conviction.

FILE: Los Angeles, 11 November 2017

1. Various shots Jennifer Lawrence poses for photos at Academy Governors Awards

FILE: Los Angeles, 16 October 2017

2. Medium shot Jennifer Lawrence talks to reporter at Elle Women in Hollywood event

FILE: Venice, Italy, 4 September 2017

3. Various shots Kirsten Dunst arrives, poses for photos at Venice film festival premiere of "Woodshock"

FILE: Cannes, France, 24 May 2017

4. Wide shot Kirsten Dunst poses for phots with cast of "The Beguiled" at the film's Cannes film festival premiere

5. Close-up Kirsten Dunst wipes away tears

6. Cutaway camera

7. Close tilt Kirsten Dunst, walks up steps

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Rome, 30 March 2011

1. Wide of Coliseum

2. Wide of Berlusconi's Rome residence, Palazzo Grazioli

3. Italian flag in front of Berlusconi residence

4. Newspaper stand

5. Close of man reading newspaper and pan to the papers with photo of Karima el-Mahroug with headline (Italian) " Ruby, the witnesses for prosecution and for the defence there will be government ministers and stars"

6. Close of photo of George Clooney with his Italian companion Elisabetta Canalis in the newspaper

7. Wide of Italian newspapers

8. Close of the newspaper headline (Italian): "From Clooney to Gelmini (Minister of Education), there will be 190 witnesses for Ruby." The Actor: "Strange, I only saw the Cavaliere (Berlusconi) once."

9. Close of newspaper headline (Italian) :"Ruby witness for the prosecution and defense, ministers and stars to testify"

AP Television

++FILE: Milan 28 March 2011

10. Reverse view of Berlusconi waving at the crowd, he turns and waves and smiles

AP Television

Rome, 30 March 2011

11. Medium of Lawyer Chiara Magrini sitting at the table

12. SOUNDBITE ( English) Chiara Magrini, Legal Analyst:

"As Ruby said that George Clooney, together with his girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis, participated to the Bunga Bunga parties of Berlusconi. If it is demonstrated that this is not true, Ruby is going to lose credibility as witness."

AP Entertainment

++FILE: Los Angeles, 7 March 2010

13. Medium actor George Clooney and girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis pose for photographers

AP Entertainment

++FILE: New York, 11 January 2010

14. Medium shot of George Clooney talking to reporter and girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis

AP Entertainment

++FILE: Venice, Italy, 8 September 2009

15.Wide of George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis arrive at the "Men Who Stare At Goats" premiere

AP Television

Rome, 30 March 2011

16. SOUNDBITE ( English) Chiara Magrini, Legal Analyst:

"The president of the tribunal will analyse witnesses and circumstances under which they are called, and at his discretion he will decide if some witness can be excluded."

AP Entertainment

++FILE: Rome, Italy, 17 October 2009

17. Medium shot Clooney and Canalis walking along red carpet at 'Up in the Air' premiere

AP Entertainment

++FILE: Milan Italy September 27 2010

18. George Clooney and girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis arrive at Armani show

STORYLINE

CLOONEY NAMED AS POSSIBLE WITNESS IN BERLUSCONI TRIAL

Defence lawyers for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi named George Clooney, the Italian foreign minister, and several showgirls as witnesses at the premier's upcoming prostitution trial, a lawyer and news reports said on Wednesday (30 March 2011).

Prosecutors, for their part, have asked to hear from 136 witnesses, including the Moroccan teenager Karima el-Mahroug, who is at the centre of the scandal, and 32 other women who allegedly worked as prostitutes during parties at Berlusconi's Milan villa, according to Italian news reports.

Both sides presented their lists of witnesses at the Milan tribunal where the trial opens next week.

A judge must now decide which witnesses to admit.

The 74-year-old Berlusconi is accused of having paid for sex with the Moroccan woman, Karima el-Mahroug, who is known as Ruby and was 17 at the time, and then using his influence to try to cover it up.

The premier denies wrongdoing.

Clooney was listed because Ruby once said she had seen the Hollywood star and his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis at one of Berlusconi's parties, according to the law firm representing Berlusconi.

Italian newspapers reported months ago that el-Mahroug had said Clooney, who has a mansion on Lake Como, north of Milan, and Canalis were guests at one of Berlusconi's parties.

According to a February 22 report in leading Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, prosecutors talked with Canalis last month and she denied that she and Clooney attended any of the premier's parties.

Berlusconi's defence also listed Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and other Cabinet officials amid the 78 people named as witnesses, attorney Piersilvio Cipollotti said.

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide of Coliseum

2. Wide of Berlusconi's Rome residence, Palazzo Grazioli

3. Italian flag in front of Berlusconi residence

4. Police security outside Berlusconi's residence

5. Newspaper stand

6. Close of man reading newspaper and pan to the papers with photo of Karima el-Mahroug with headline (Italian) " Ruby, the witnesses for prosecution and for the defence there will be government ministers and stars"

7. Close of photo of George Clooney with his Italian companion Elisabetta Canalis in the newspaper

8. Wide of Italian newspapers

9. Close of the newspaper headline (Italian): "From Clooney to Gelmini (Minister of Education), there will be 190 witnesses for Ruby." The Actor: "Strange, I only saw the Cavaliere (Berlusconi) once."

10. Medium of Lawyer Chiara Magrini sitting at the table

11. SOUNDBITE ( English) Chiara Magrini, Legal Analyst:

"As Ruby said that George Clooney, together with his girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis, participated to the Bunga Bunga parties of Berlusconi, if it is demonstrated that this is not true, Ruby is going to lose credibility as witness."

12. Wide of lawyer Chiara Magrini

13. SOUNDBITE ( English) Chiara Magrini, Legal Analyst:

"The president of the tribunal will analyse the witnesses and the circumstances under which they are being called, and at his discretion he will decide if some witnesses can be excluded."

14. Side shot of Chiara Magrini

15. Rome street scenes

STORYLINE

Defence lawyers for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi named George Clooney, the Italian foreign minister, and several showgirls as witnesses at the premier's upcoming prostitution trial, a lawyer and news reports said on Wednesday.

Prosecutors, for their part, have asked to hear from 136 witnesses, including the Moroccan teenager Karima el-Mahroug at the centre of the scandal, and 32 other women who allegedly worked as prostitutes during parties at Berlusconi's Milan villa, according to Italian news reports.

Both sides presented their lists of witnesses at the Milan tribunal where the trial opens next week.

A judge must now decide which witnesses to admit.

The 74-year-old Berlusconi is accused of having paid for sex with the Moroccan woman, Karima el-Mahroug, who is known as Ruby and was 17 at the time, and then using his influence to try to cover it up.

The premier denies wrongdoing.

Clooney was listed because Ruby once said she had seen the Hollywood star and his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis at one of Berlusconi's parties, according to the law firm representing Berlusconi.

Italian newspapers reported months ago that el-Mahroug had said Clooney, who has a mansion on Lake Como north of Milan, and Canalis were guests at one of Berlusconi's parties.

According to a February 22 report in leading Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, prosecutors talked with Canalis last month and she denied that she and Clooney attended any of the premier's parties.

Berlusconi's defence also listed Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and other Cabinet officials amid the 78 people named as witnesses, Cipollotti said.

The stepson of Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak pleaded not guilty on Friday to laundering 248 million (US dollars) from the 1MDB state investment fund, becoming the third person in his family to face charges in the scandal.

Hollywood producer Riza Aziz was freed on bail a day after being detained by anti-graft officials.

He was solemn as he appeared in court to be charged with receiving the illicit funds between 2011 and 2012 in the U.S. and Singapore.

The charge sheets said the money was misappropriated from 1MDB and channeled into bank accounts of his Hollywood company Red Granite Pictures Inc., which produced films including the Martin Scorsese-directed "The Wolf of Wall Street."

Riza, 42, was charged with five counts of money laundering, and he could face up to five years in prison, a fine or both, on each count if he is convicted.

Najib is now on trial for graft after his electoral defeat. His wife Rosmah Mansor has also pleaded not guilty to money laundering linked to 1MDB.

Kuala Lumpur - 5 July 2019

1. Wide of media surrounding producer Riza Aziz

2. Various of Aziz leaving the courthouse, escorted by lawyers and security

3. Courthouse lobby glass door

4. Various exteriors of the courthouse

5. Security outside the courthouse

Roman Polanski's sexual assault victim asked a judge on Friday to end the 40-year-old case against the fugitive director, but there was no indication her plea would bring an end to the lengthy court saga.

Samantha Geimer told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon that she wanted the case to end, either with an outright dismissal or by the judge sentencing Polanski without him being present.

Polanski's repeated requests for the same rulings have been denied.

Gordon said he would take Geimer's comments into consideration and did not issue an immediate ruling.

Geimer described herself as more of a victim of the criminal justice system than of Polanski.

Geimer said before she addressed the court that she was terrified, but felt compelled to tell Gordon her thoughts on the case.

Geimer, 54, has long supported Polanski's efforts to end the legal saga that limits his freedom, but Friday was the first time she's appeared in court on his behalf, Polanski's attorney Harland Braun said.

The Oscar-winning director has been a fugitive since he fled to France in 1978 on the eve of sentencing for having unlawful sex with a minor.

Prosecutors dropped charges that he drugged, raped and sodomised Geimer when she was 13 years old.

Polanski feared the judge was going to renege on a plea agreement and send him away for more time than the six weeks he served in prison during a psychiatric evaluation prior to sentencing.

His lawyers have been fighting for years to end the case and lift an international arrest warrant that confined him to his native France, Switzerland and Poland, where he fled the Holocaust.

The warrant prevented Polanski from collecting his Academy Award for best director for his 2002 film "The Pianist."

He was also nominated for 1974's "Chinatown" and 1979's "Tess."

Polanski, 83, is trying to get the Interpol warrant lifted so he can move freely among most of the 190 countries in the global policing network.

If that happened, the California warrant would remain valid.

Polanski contends he is the victim of judicial misconduct because the now-deceased judge who handled the case suggested in private remarks that he would not honour a plea agreement.

It called for no more time behind bars for the director after he spent 42 days in a prison undergoing a diagnostic screening.

The Friday hearing was part of an effort by Braun to get the court to unseal testimony by the now-retired prosecutor in the case, who is believed to have testified in a closed session about backroom sentencing discussions.

Braun wants to use the transcript to show Polanski has served his time so the international warrant is dropped.

Braun also argues that Polanski served an additional 10 months under house arrest during a failed extradition effort from Switzerland in 2010.

Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee urged the court in a Thursday filing to reject Polanski's latest efforts, saying two previous judges and an appeals court have ruled against him.

Judge Scott Gordon has rejected Polanski's efforts to resolve the case in the director's absence or with a promise that he wouldn't be sentenced to more time or be arrested if he voluntarily returned for a sentencing hearing.

Geimer has previously said she forgives Polanski for the assault that happened at Jack Nicholson's compound in the Hollywood Hills during a March 1977 photo shoot.

Polanski plied the girl with champagne and part of a sedative pill before raping her, according to grand jury transcripts.

Nicholson was not home at the time.

Geimer sued Polanski and reached a settlement in 1993 for $500,000 that included over $100,000 in interest payments.

The Associated Press doesn't typically name victims of sex abuse, but Geimer went public years ago.

She wrote a memoir titled "The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski" four years ago.

POOL

Los Angeles - 9 June 2017

1. Wide of courtroom

2. Close of Samantha Geimer, sexual assault victim

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Harland Braun, attorney for Roman Polanski, Oscar-winning film director:

++QUALITY AS INCOMING++

"And the victim who is present in court who has for at least a decade indicated that she wants the case over, that she has basically forgiven Mr. Polanski, as much as anyone can. Mr. Polanski has accepted moral responsibility and legal responsibility."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Geimer, sexual assault victim:

"I stand before you no longer afraid and with hope that you will consider my plea for justice and relief. Without dismissing Mr. Polanski's shared responsibility for the 40-year ordeal that (now deceased) Judge (Laurence) Rittenband and the district attorney's office have forced upon me, I would implore you to consider taking action which can finally bring this matter to a close as an act of mercy to myself and my family."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Geimer, sexual assault victim:

"First I would like you to, I would like to ask you to consider sentencing Mr. Polanski to time served in absentia."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Geimer, sexual assault victim:

"At the very least you could recall the international warrant which has been denied by the respective courts of Switzerland and Poland in part because the request contained false and misleading information."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Geimer, sexual assault victim:

"Last consider a dismissal of the case in light of the facts which are known at this time as a way to expedite a conclusion to a 40-year sentence which has been imposed on the victim of a crime as well as a perpetrator. My mother and grandmother, my father, my stepfather, my husband, my three sons have endured terror that has faded to fear, panic that has faded to anxiety, never knowing when or where they may be forced to face as unfairly unending case. I know Roman's family has suffered as well. We are human beings, not wins and losses. I now have become a grandmother. I implore you to consider that now a fifth generation of my family may be unfairly burdened and resolve this matter without the spectacle of arresting and incarcerating a 83-year-old defendant for the benefit of the egos involved in this case. I do not want to have to explain to my grandaaughter why she can't go outside or answer the phone or why there are camera crews outside my home and eventually what happened to her nana in 1977."

7. Geimer walking back to seat in courtroom

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Gordon, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge:

++QUALITY AS INCOMING++

"You are, your courage as a survivor is noted and I thank you for that."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles - 9 June 2017

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Harland Braun, attorney for Roman Polanski:

"I am not defending his (Polanski) conduct. I'm trying to straighten out a dishonest system."

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Harland Braun, attorney for Roman Polanski:

"If it got dismissed it would either be one of two reasons. One, it should be dismissed on the merits or the judge was very smart and realised he could put an end to an entire scandal by getting rid of this case, so one of the two, but I'd be happy with either result."

11. Braun shaking hands with man outside courtroom

SHOTLIST

AP TELEVISION

FILE: Cannes, France - 25 May 2005

1. Various of film director Roman Polanski on red carpet, being photographed

FILE: Paris, France - 28 February 2008

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Roman Polanski, Film Director:

(Reporter: "What is it about John Galliano's show that you like?")

"I like what he does, it is always a surprise."

(Reporter: "And visually, as a director, is what's going on in fashion important for you?")

"Well, what is going on in fashion in general is important for all of us but yes I am quite interested."

(Reporter: "thank you very much.")

FILE: Bangkok, Thailand - 15 October 2005

3. Mid of Polanski entering news conference

4. Cutaway journalists

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Roman Polanski, Film Director:

(Asked about being extradited to the US)

"I came here to talk about the motion picture I presented here. I've been travelling around the world for 20 years. I don't have any problems. Thank you."

6. Polanski during news conference

STORYLINE

SWISS ARREST POLANSKI ON US REQUEST IN SEX CASE

Director Roman Polanski was arrested by Swiss police as he flew in for the Zurich Film Festival and faces possible extradition to the United States for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl, authorities said Sunday.

Polanski was scheduled to receive an honorary award at the festival when he was apprehended Saturday at the airport, the Swiss Justice Ministry said in a statement. It said U.S. authorities have sought the arrest of the 76-year-old director around the world since 2005.

"There was a valid arrest request and we knew when he was coming," ministry spokesman Guido Balmer told The Associated Press. "That's why he was taken into custody."

Balmer said the U.S. would now have to make a formal extradition request.

Polanski fled the U.S. in 1978, a year after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with the underage girl. The director of such classic films as 'Chinatown' and 'Rosemary's Baby' has asked a U.S. appeals court in California to overturn a judges' refusal to throw out his case. He claims misconduct by the now-deceased judge who had arranged a plea bargain and then reneged on it.

The Swiss statement said Polanski was in 'provisional detention for extradition,' but added he would not be transferred to U.S. authorities until all proceedings are completed. Polanski can contest his detention and any extradition decision in the Swiss courts, it said.

Polanski has lived for the past three decades in France, where his career has continued to flourish, and he received a directing Oscar in absentia for the 2002 movie 'The Pianist.'

Polanski has not been extradited from France because his crime reportedly was not covered under treaties between the United States and France.

In Paris, Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said he was 'dumbfounded' by Polanski's arrest, adding that he "strongly regrets that a new ordeal is being inflicted on someone who has already experienced so many of them."

Those comments referred to the fact that Polanski, a native of France who was taken to Poland by his parents, escaped Krakow's Jewish ghetto as a child and lived off the charity of strangers. His mother died at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp.

Mitterrand's ministry said Sunday that he was in contact with French President Nicolas Sarkozy " who is following the case with great attention and shares the minister's hope that the situation can be quickly resolved."

Polanski worked his way into filmmaking in Poland, gaining an Oscar nomination for best foreign-language film in 1964 for his 'Knife in the Water.' Offered entry to Hollywood, he directed the classic ' Rosemary's Baby' in 1968.

But his life was shattered again in 1969 when his wife, actress Sharon Tate, and four other people were gruesomely murdered by followers of Charles Manson. She was eight months pregnant.

He went on to make another American classic, ' Chinatown,' released in 1974.

In 1977, he was accused of raping the teenager while photographing her during a modelling session. The girl said Polanski plied her with champagne and part of a Quaalude pill at Jack Nicholson's house while the actor was away. She said that, despite her protests, he performed oral sex, intercourse and sodomy on her.

Polanski was allowed to plead guilty to one of six charges, unlawful sexual intercourse, and was sent to prison for 42 days of evaluation.

Lawyers agreed that would be his full sentence, but the judge tried to renege on the plea bargain. Aware the judge would sentence him to more prison time and require his voluntary deportation, Polanski fled to France.

The victim, Samantha Geimer, who long ago identified herself publicly, has joined in Polanski's bid for dismissal, saying she wants the case to be over.

She sued Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement.

Zurich Film Festival organisers said Polanski's detention had caused ' shock and dismay,' but said they would go ahead with Sunday's planned retrospective of the director's work.

The Swiss Directors Association sharply criticised authorities for what it deemed ' not only a grotesque farce of justice, but also an immense cultural scandal.'

Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak's third corruption trial opened Monday, with prosecutors saying Najib had tampered with a government audit of the 1MDB state investment fund in a bid to avoid civil and criminal proceedings.

Najib, 66, faces multiple corruption charges linked to the looting of the 1MDB fund, a scandal that contributed to his election defeat last year.

Najib is being jointly tried with Arul Kanda Kandasamy, 1MDB ex-CEO, who is accused of abetting him. Monday's trial opened just days after another court ordered Najib to enter his defense in his first corruption case linked to money entering his account from a former 1MDB unit.

His ongoing second trial started in August.

In all, Najib faces 42 charges of criminal breach of trust, graft, abuse of power and money laundering in five criminal cases over 1MDB corruption that led to investigations in the United States and several countries.

His wife and stepson, several officials from his government, and the U.S. firm Goldman Sachs also face charges related to the scandal.

U.S. investigators say at least 4.5 billion U.S. dollars was stolen from 1MDB by Najib's associates and laundered through layers of bank accounts in the U.S. and other countries to finance Hollywood films and buy hotels, a luxury yacht, art works, jewelry and other extravagances.

More than 700 million U.S. dollars from the fund allegedly landed in Najib's bank account.

Prosecutors earlier made slight amendments to the charge against Najib and Arul Kanda, adding specific passages in the audit report that were doctored.

Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah appealed for more time, saying the defense team faces "three battle fronts and it is worse than Waterloo." But the judge ordered the trial to proceed.

Sri Ram said prosecutors will at a later stage summon Arul Kanda as a prosecution witness. Arul Kanda's lawyer, N. Sivananthan, expressed surprise, saying his client can't give evidence against himself and that he will object at the time.

Kuala Lumpur – 18 November 2019

1. Various arrivals of Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak leaving and entering the elevator

2. Various of Arul Kanda Kandasamy, former 1MDB CEO, leaving and heading to elevator

3. Exteriors of the Kuala Lumpur High Court

REMEMBERING MICHAEL JACKSON, WHOSE DEATH SHOOK THE WORLD TEN YEARS AGO

The sudden death of Michael Jackson came as a shock to the world.

The pop star died at University of California Los Angeles Medical Centre on 25 June 2009 after suffering a cardiac arrest.  He was 50.

Stores were inundated with orders for Jackson's music and a chorus of grief for the megastar spread around the world, from statesmen to icons of music to legions of heartbroken fans.

Diana Ross, who helped launch Jackson's career, said she couldn't stop crying at the sudden and shocking death.

Lisa Marie Presley, briefly married to the pop icon in the mid-1990s, said he had confided to her 14 years ago that he worried about facing the same tragic fate as her father, Elvis Presley, who died of a drug overdose at age 42.

The White House also weighed in for the first time, with President Barack Obama saying Jackson was a spectacular performer and music icon whose life nonetheless had sad and tragic aspects.

The House of Representatives observed a moment of silence.

After Jackson was acquitted on child molestation charges in 2005, prosecutors argued against returning to Jackson items including syringes, the drug Demerol and prescriptions for various drugs, mainly antibiotics, in different people's names.

Jackson died after being stricken at his rented home in the posh Los Angeles neighbourhood of Holmby Hills.  Paramedics tried to resuscitate him for three-quarters of an hour before rushing him to hospital.

Jackson was preparing for a monster comeback bid - a series of 50 concerts that was to begin the month after his death in London.

A handful of bleary-eyed fans camped out throughout the night with media outside the Jackson family house in the San Fernando Valley and near his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame upon news of his passing.

People heading to work in New York stopped to pay respects outside Harlem's Apollo Theater, where Jackson performed as a child.

Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer.

His 1982 album "Thriller" - which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" - is the best-selling album of all time worldwide.

Yet after selling more than 61 million albums in the U.S. and having a decade-long attraction open at Disney theme parks, Jackson died reportedly awash in about 400 million (m) US dollars in debt, on the cusp of a final comeback after well over a decade of scandal.

The public first knew Jackson as a boy in the late 1960s, when he was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the singing group he formed with his four older brothers out of Gary, Indiana.  Among their No. 1 hits were "I Want You Back," "ABC" and "I'll Be There."

He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his backward-gliding moonwalk, his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched singing, punctuated with squeals and titters.

His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks, as was his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words," said Quincy Jones, who produced "Thriller."

"He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

Jackson ranked alongside Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time.  He united two of music's biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie.

Jackson's sudden death immediately evoked comparisons to that of Presley himself, who died at age 42 in 1977.

As years went by, Jackson became an increasingly freakish figure - a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life.

His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice.

He often wore a germ mask while travelling, kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions, and surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, a storybook playland filled with toys, rides and animals.  The tabloids dubbed him "Wacko Jacko."

After the enormous success of "Thriller," Jackson had strong follow-up albums with 1987's "Bad" and 1991's "Dangerous," but his career began to collapse in 1993 after he was accused of molesting a boy who often stayed at his home.

The singer denied any wrongdoing, reached a settlement with the boy's family, reported to be 20 million (m) US dollars, and criminal charges were never filed.

Jackson caused a furore in 2002 when he playfully dangled his infant son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony in Berlin while a throng of fans watched from below.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003.  He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him, and of engaging in strange and inappropriate behaviour with other children.

The case followed years of rumors about Jackson and young boys.  In a TV documentary, he acknowledged sharing his bed with children, a practise he described as sweet and not at all sexual.

Despite the acquittal, the lurid allegations that came out in court took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.

Earlier this year, the co-executor of Jackson's estate said that he was confident the late superstar's supporters will be able to protect his legacy in the wake of an HBO documentary featuring the disturbing stories of two men who say Jackson sexually abused them as boys.

John Branca called the documentary a one-sided "made-for-TV-movie" and accused the film's subjects of being motivated by money.

The men first came forward with their stories years earlier in lawsuits. Both of them had previously denied the singer sexually abused them, but said having their own children and Jackson's 2009 death forced them to face the truth. Their lawsuits were dismissed for technical reasons.

In his private life, Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley in 1994, and they divorced in 1996.  Later that year, Jackson married Deborah Rowe, a former nurse for his dermatologist.

They had two children together: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11.  Rowe filed for divorce in 1999.

Jackson also had a third child, Prince Michael II, now 7.  Jackson said the boy, nicknamed Blanket as a baby, was his biological child born from a surrogate mother.

++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE: 4:3 FOOTAGE THROUGHOUT++

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles, California, June 26 2009

1. Various shots Michael Jackson's star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, surrounded by flowers, candles and photographers

2. Various shots fans crying

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Encino, California, 26 June 2009

3. Wide shot fans gathering outside family home, comforting each other, floral tributes placed by roadside

POOL

Washington, DC, 26 June 2009

4. UPOSOUND (English) Representative Jesse Jackson Junior, Democrat - Illinois:

"On August 29, 1958 he visited Gary, Indiana and touched a young man with an abundance of his blessings. With that gift, that young man Michael Joe Jackson would touch and change the world. His heart couldn't get any bigger and yesterday it arrested. I come to the floor today on behalf of a generation to thank God for letting all of us live in his generation and in his era. And with that, Madam Speaker, we would ask members to please stand for a moment of silence."

5. Various shots House of Representatives standing and observing a moment of silence for Jackson

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York City, 26 June 2009

6. Pull out from Times Square television monitor announcing pop star Michael Jackson's death

7. Various of ABC ticker in New York's Times Square displaying news of Michael Jackson's death

8. Medium shot fans holding stereo playing "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson

9. Close-up of New York Times front page with picture of Jackson

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Detroit, Michigan, 26 June 2009

10. Tilt down shrine outside Motown Museum with balloons, flowers and teddy bears

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cleveland, Ohio, June 26 2009

11. Wide shot exterior Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum

12. Various shots Michael Jackson exhibits

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Terry Stewart, President & CEO Rock and Roll Hall of Fame And Museum:

"I can't believe he'S gone. I can't believe he's left us. It is the same sinking feeling I had with Elvis Presley and John Lennon - not that I am comparing them - but the fact is you're talking about artists like Michael Jackson who had an impact around the world - all cultures, all ages - and whoever expects, no one expects them to ever die, never mind pass away at such an early age."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gary, Indiana, 25 June 2009

14. Various shots fans gather outside Michael Jackson's boyhood home, exterior of home with gifts

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York, 25 June 2009

15. Wide shot female fan dancing

16. People chanting "Michael Jackson" in front of the Apollo Theatre

17. Apollo Theatre sign

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Beijing, 26 June 2009

18. Wide shot of photo of Michael Jackson displayed on public screen

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mexico City, 25 June 2009

19. Medium shot Michael Jackson impersonator dances the "moonwalk" as he comes into the plaza of the Angel of Independence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Paris, 26 June 2009

20. Medium shot newspapers with headlines reading: (French) "Michael Jackson is dead" and "The Death of Michael Jackson"

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Zwentendorf, Austria, 24 July 2009

21. Medium shot Andie MacDowell arrives at gala honoring Michael Jackson's humanitarian work after his death

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Andie MacDowell, actress:

"I congratulate Austria for turning attention towards his humanitarian acts. I think that, I think that that is really important and it would be what he would want at this moment - for everybody to understand everything that he did."

23. Medium shot Jermaine Jackson arrives at gala

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Jermaine Jackson, Michael's brother:

"It's a wonderful feeling and I said for many times this is very much what Michael's message was all about - healing the world, making the world a better place to live. There's been so much sensationalism, false accusations, things that are not true, facts that are ungone, gone without saying. And the fact that they need to look at is what he's done. There are so much work on the humanitarian side."

25. Wide shot Jermaine Jackson speaks to reporters

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Jermaine Jackson, Michael's brother:

"He was able to reach out to people and to governments and to try to make a change so that's what Michael is - he's a wonderful entertainer but he's a greater humanitarian."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles, 7 July 2009

27. Medium shot Michael Jackson's death certificate released by Los Angeles County Health Services

28. Close-up of Jackson's death certificate

ASSOCIATED PRESS

London, 24 July 2009

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Uri Geller:

"You know throughout the years there was so much negativity hurled at Michael Jackson, I looked at it as media bullying, worldwide media bullying, non-stop, day in, day out, whether it was the color of his skin or his face, or the controversies that dogged Michael."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

London, 10 July 2009

30. Pan from press to medium shot press conference

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Shah Rukh Khan, actor - on Michael Jackson:

"It's perhaps not the nicest thing to be as sensitive as he was.  He was such a wonderful being.  I've met him and he was really nice, a very kind human being and I feel very sad.  I mean, I cried, which has been a long time since I cried last.  My wife cried and my kids cried, we really liked him."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Encino, California, 7 July 2009

32. Car with Jackson's father Joe Jackson leaving for his son Michael's funeral, followed by convoy of other cars

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles, 7 July 2009

33. Wide shot of motorcade turning into Staples Center, zoom into hearse entering complex

34. Wide shot floral tribute reading "We love you Michael" outside Staples Center

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Santa Barbara, California, 2 July 2009

35. Various shots Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch

ASSOCIATED PRESS

London, 7 July 2009

36. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Williams, recording artist:

''I will remember him for the great things that he contributed to music. The dancing, his charitable contributions, how he loved, he loved people, he loved everybody. I pray from today on out we will focus on that. He's not here, so all the things that are negative, it's like who are you trying to hurt? He's not here to hear it. Are you trying to hurt the family? It's like he's gone already let's focus on what he did leave which is great music for us to continue to dance to and he left huge, huge shoes to fill."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

London, 16 June 2009

37. SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Rowland, recording artist:

''The first time I met Michael Jackson it was with Destiny's Child and he actually sang 'Bootylicious' to us, and my mouth was wide open and I couldn't say anything because he just, he takes you back.  Michael's presence is so sweet, it really is and when he sang it, he just sang it just because he loves the record and we were like, 'You inspire everything we do,' you know?  And just to this day, like I know I see so much of him in so many different artists.  He inspires so many.''

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC, 2 July 2009

38. Wide shot US President Barack Obama walks in and greets Associated Press White House Press Correspondent Jennifer Loven

39. SOUNDBITE (English), Barack Obama, US President:

"You know, I think that Michael Jackson will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers.  I grew up on his music, still have all his stuff on my iPod.  You know, I think that his brilliance as a performer also was paired with a tragic and,in many ways, sad personal life.  But you know, I am glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New Orleans, 3 July 2009

40. Medium shot of Queen Latifah standing with three unidentified women at her "My Black is Beautiful" campaign at the Essence Music Festival

41. SOUNDBITE (English) Queen Latifah, actress/recording artist - on Essence Music Festival paying tribute to Michael Jackson:

"I think it's only befitting that we honor Michael Jackson in every way possible."

42. Medium shot Queen Latifah signing autographs

43. SOUNDBITE (English) Queen Latifah, actress/recording artist:

"He's the greatest entertainer of all time, bottom line.  There's no one who can compare to him. There's no one who's had, you know, over 40 years of music in them, from a child on up to being a 50-year-old and about to go on a world tour, play 50 dates in one city alone and sell 'em out in a day, basically."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Unknown location, 31 August 1971

44. STILL IMAGE: The Jackson Five, with Michael Jackson top right

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles, 25 February 1983

45. STILL IMAGE: Michael Jackson and Jane Fonda with records

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles, 28 February 1984

46. STILL IMAGE: Michael Jackson and producer Quincy Jones, holding eight Grammy Awards for "Thriller"

Malaysian prosecutors Tuesday wrapped up their case against former Prime Minister Najib Razak in his first corruption trial after five months, paving the way for his second court case to begin.

Prosecutors told the High Court that they were resting their case against Najib after questioning 57 witnesses since the trial began April 3.

The judge will hear closing arguments from both prosecutors and defence lawyers on Oct. 22 and will rule on Nov 11 whether Najib should enter his defence.

Najib faces 42 charges of corruption, abuse of power and money laundering in five separate criminal cases linked to the multibillion-dollar looting of the 1MDB state investment fund that contributed to his shocking election ouster last year.

Najib, 65, denies wrongdoing and accuses Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government of seeking political vengeance.

The seven charges in his first trial specifically relate to the suspicious transfer of 42 million ringgit (10 million US dollars) from SRC International, a former 1MDB unit, into Najib's bank accounts via intermediary companies between 2011 and 2015.

Najib is accused of using his position to receive the money for approving a government guarantee for a government loan to SRC, committing criminal breach of trust and accepting proceeds from unlawful activities.

His lawyers say Najib is the victim of conspiracy by rogue bankers, including one identified by U.S. investigators as the mastermind behind the 1MDB fiasco.

Prosecutors say Najib, who set up 1MDB in 2009, was the real power behind the fund and SRC.

In his second trial due to begin Wednesday, Najib faces four counts of abusing his power to receive a total of 2.3 billion ringgit (547 million US dollars) from 2011 to 2014, and 21 other charges of receiving, using and transferring illicit funds linked to 1MDB.

The trial could be delayed again as the defence is challenging the government's appointment of a former senior judge as the chief prosecutor in the case.

Najib set up 1MDB when he took power in 2009 to promote economic development, but the fund amassed billions in debts and is being investigated in the United States and several other countries for alleged cross-border embezzlement and money laundering.

U.S. investigators say more than 4.5 billion dollars was stolen from 1MDB by associates of Najib between 2009 and 2014, including the money that landed in Najib's bank accounts.

They say the ill-gotten gains were laundered through layers of bank accounts in the United States and other countries to finance Hollywood films and buy hotels, a luxury yacht, art works, jewelry, and other extravagances.

Public anger over the scandal eventually led to the ouster of Najib's long-ruling coalition in May last year, ushering in the first change of power since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957.

The new government reopened investigations stifled under Najib and barred him and his wife from leaving the country. Police also seized jewelry and hundreds of handbags and other valuables estimated at more than 1.1 billion ringgit (264 million US dollars) from properties linked to Najib.

Kuala Lumpur – 27 August 2019

1. Various Najib Razak arrivals

2. Various of Najib heading to elevator

3. Cutaway of media

4. Najib heading to elevator

5. Various exterior courtroom, signage

6. Prosecution lawyer Sithambaram arriving at presser

7. Cutaway of media

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sithambaram, Malaysian Lead Prosecutor:

"Well, we are confident that we have proved a 'prima facie' (burden of proof) case, which warrants the accused in this case 'datuk Seri' Najib to answer the charges leveled against him by the prosecution."

9. Wide of press conference

10. Shafiee Abdullah, Najib's lawyer arriving

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Shafee Abdullah, Najib Razak's Defence Lawyer:

"We are very confident of our own defence, we are very confident that defence ought not to be called (trial should cease), yea, in this case I think we have knocked down virtually everything (prosecution evidence) but as I said I don't want to say more."

12. Security

13. Najib leaving courtroom

LAWYER: DEAL CLOSE IN WEINSTEIN SEXUAL MISCONDUCT LAWSUITS

A tentative deal is close to settling lawsuits brought against the television and film company co-founded by Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by scores of women.

Adam Harris, a lawyer for studio co-founder Bob Weinstein, told a bankruptcy court judge Thursday that "an economic agreement in principal" has been reached. The amount of the settlement wasn't provided.

More than 15 lawsuits have been filed accusing Harvey Weinstein or the company of misconduct. The settlement would cover many of them, including a class action by alleged victims and a suit by the New York attorney general.

The scandal forced the studio into bankruptcy.

Harvey Weinstein also faces criminal charges of rape and performing a forcible sex act.

He denies all allegations of nonconsensual sex.

New York - 26 April 2019

1. Various shots of Harvey Weinstein exiting court

New York - 11 October 2018

2. Various of Harvey Weinstein leaving courtroom

3. Various of Harvey Weinstein leaving courthouse with his attorney Benjamin Brafman and getting into vehicle

New York - 28 April 2017

4. Various of Miramax Films co-founder and film producer Harvey Weinstein arriving at the 25th anniversary screening of 'Reservoir Dogs'

New York - 10 February 2016

5. Weinstein posing for photos with TV personality Sandra Lee at an amfAR gala

Los Angeles - 7 September 2016

6. Various of Weinstein posing with Usher and Terry Lewis at Usher's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony

New York - 15 February 2017

7. Weinstein seated front row next to Vogue editor Anna Wintour at a Marchesa fashion show

Hollywood stars Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin appeared in federal court alongside other wealthy parents Wednesday to face charges in the college bribery scandal that has roiled the world of admissions and amplified complaints the system is stacked in favor of the rich.

The two actresses and Loughlin's fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, said little during the brief hearing in a packed Boston courtroom and were not asked to enter a plea. They remain free on bail. Several other parents were given similar hearings of a few minutes each.

The proceedings came three weeks after 50 people were charged with taking part in a scheme in which parents bribed coaches and helped rig test scores to get their children into some of the nation's most selective universities, including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, UCLA and the University of Southern California.

It was the biggest college admissions scheme ever prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department.

Loughlin, who appeared in the 1980s and '90s sitcom "Full House," is accused along with Giannulli of paying $500,000 to get their daughters admitted as recruits to the USC crew team, even though neither is a rower. Authorities said the couple helped create fake athletic profiles for their daughters by having them pose for photos on rowing machines.

The Hallmark Channel, where Loughlin starred in popular holiday movies and the series "When Calls the Heart," cut ties with her a day after her arrest.

Huffman, the former "Desperate Housewives" star, is charged with paying the admissions consultant at the center of the scheme $15,000 to have a proctor correct the answers on her daughter's SAT.

Huffman, Loughlin and Giannulli have not publicly addressed the allegations.

They and others are charged with conspiracy and fraud, which carries up to 20 years in prison. But first-time offenders typically get only a fraction of that, and experts said some parents may avoid prison if they quickly agree to plead guilty.

Other parents charged in the case include the former co-chairman of an international law firm and the former head of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm.

Three people have pleaded guilty, including the admissions consultant, Rick Singer, and the former women's soccer coach at Yale, Rudy Meredith.

On Wednesday, Loughlin smiled as she walked out of the courthouse and climbed into a black SUV with her lawyers. A fan shouted, "I love you, Felicity!" as Huffman emerged from the courthouse with her brother.

Neither Huffman nor her lawyers have publicly addressed the allegations. She was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Boston, Massachusetts - 3 April 2019

1. Various, Lori Loughlin walking out of federal court

2 . Various, Felicity Huffman walking out of federal court

Hollywood stars Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin appeared in federal court alongside other wealthy parents on Wednesday to face charges in the college bribery scandal that has roiled the world of admissions and amplified complaints the system is stacked in favor of the rich.

The two actresses and Loughlin's fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, said little during the brief hearing in a packed Boston courtroom and were not asked to enter a plea.

They remain free on bail.

Several other parents were given similar hearings of a few minutes each.

The proceedings came three weeks after 50 people were charged with taking part in a scheme in which parents bribed coaches and helped rig test scores to get their children into some of the nation's most selective universities, including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, UCLA and the University of Southern California.

It was the biggest college admissions scheme ever prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department.

Loughlin, who appeared in the 1980s and '90s sitcom "Full House," is accused along with Giannulli of paying

500,000 US dollars to get their daughters admitted as recruits to the USC crew team, even though neither is a rower.

Authorities said the couple helped create fake athletic profiles for their daughters by having them pose for photos on rowing machines.

The Hallmark Channel, where Loughlin starred in popular holiday movies and the series "When Calls the Heart," cut ties with her a day after her arrest.

Huffman, the former "Desperate Housewives" star, is charged with paying the admissions consultant at the center of the scheme $15,000 to have a proctor correct the answers on her daughter's SAT.

Huffman, Loughlin and Giannulli have not publicly addressed the allegations.

They and others are charged with conspiracy and fraud, which carries up to 20 years in prison. But first-time offenders typically get only a fraction of that, and experts said some parents may avoid prison if they quickly agree to plead guilty.

Other parents charged in the case include the former co-chairman of an international law firm and the former head of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm.

Three people have pleaded guilty, including the admissions consultant, Rick Singer, and the former women's soccer coach at Yale, Rudy Meredith.

Neither Huffman nor her lawyers have publicly addressed the allegations. She was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Boston - 3 April 2019

1. Various, Lori Loughlin walking out of federal court

2. Various, Felicity Huffman walking out of federal court

Hollywood stars Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin appeared in federal court alongside other wealthy parents Wednesday to face charges in the college bribery scandal that has roiled the world of admissions and amplified complaints the system is stacked in favor of the rich.

The two actresses and Loughlin's fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, said little during the brief hearing in a packed Boston courtroom and were not asked to enter a plea. They remain free on bail. Several other parents were given similar hearings of a few minutes each.

The proceedings came three weeks after 50 people were charged with taking part in a scheme in which parents bribed coaches and helped rig test scores to get their children into some of the nation's most selective universities, including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, UCLA and the University of Southern California.

It was the biggest college admissions scheme ever prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department.

Loughlin, who appeared in the 1980s and '90s sitcom "Full House," is accused along with Giannulli of paying $500,000 to get their daughters admitted as recruits to the USC crew team, even though neither is a rower. Authorities said the couple helped create fake athletic profiles for their daughters by having them pose for photos on rowing machines.

The Hallmark Channel, where Loughlin starred in popular holiday movies and the series "When Calls the Heart," cut ties with her a day after her arrest.

Huffman, the former "Desperate Housewives" star, is charged with paying the admissions consultant at the center of the scheme $15,000 to have a proctor correct the answers on her daughter's SAT.

Huffman, Loughlin and Giannulli have not publicly addressed the allegations.

They and others are charged with conspiracy and fraud, which carries up to 20 years in prison. But first-time offenders typically get only a fraction of that, and experts said some parents may avoid prison if they quickly agree to plead guilty.

Other parents charged in the case include the former co-chairman of an international law firm and the former head of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm.

Three people have pleaded guilty, including the admissions consultant, Rick Singer, and the former women's soccer coach at Yale, Rudy Meredith.

Neither Huffman nor her lawyers have publicly addressed the allegations. She was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Boston - 3 April 2019

1. Various, Lori Loughlin walking out of federal court

2 . Various, Felicity Huffman walking out of federal court

An aspiring actress who met Harvey Weinstein by chance in 2014 detailed in tears Tuesday how the media mogul made her stand in front of a mirror in his hotel room in Cannes, France, while he stood behind her, groping her and forcing her to perform a sex act after pretending to be interested in her career.

Kadian Noble, 31, filed a federal lawsuit in Manhattan court under a sex trafficking statute. Her attorney Jeff Herman said the lawsuit works under the statute that states a U.S. citizen is guilty if he or she engaged in a commercial sex act overseas because Weinstein is a U.S. citizen who coerced Noble into acts in exchange under the guise of helping with her career.

"By offering Kadian help with her career, and then getting her to comply with his advances — that's the quid pro quo," Herman said. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

A spokeswoman for Weinstein said he "denies allegations of non-consensual sex" and "has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances."

Noble detailed the incident to reporters, saying that she met Weinstein by chance in 2014 at an after-party for the British Academy Film Awards, where he introduced her to Oprah Winfrey and Naomi Campbell, and she felt dazzled and lucky when he said he was interested in her.

He told her to contact an assistant and send them a demo reel. Later that year, he approached her in a hotel lobby at Cannes, which flattered her, and he suggested they look at her reel in his hotel room, she said. But when she got up there, it slowly dawned on her he was after something else.

He grabbed her arm and stood her in front of a mirror where he groped her and then forced her to perform a sex act, she said.

"And I kept saying no, and I just felt so stupid. But at the same time a massive part of me had shut down. It makes no sense that I didn't run out of the room. And all I was able to do was just say no."

She said after the incident, his assistants never got back to her.

Noble, who lives in London, said she reported details of the crime to the NYPD in recent weeks, which is investigating claims against Weinstein. In recent months, the scandal has widened to include allegations made by at least 75 other actresses, models and others. New York police have been investigating a 2010 rape allegation that could result in criminal charges.

Another civil lawsuit was filed Monday in London by a different woman who was not identified. Her attorney Jill Greenfield says her client was seeking damages for "personal injury" plus expenses and "consequential loss" arising out of a series of sexual assaults by Weinstein. Civil claims for rape and sexual assault are uncommon in Britain.

New York - 28 November 2017

1. Wide, press conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

"We got to his hotel room and he was on his phone the whole time while we were walking upstairs and then we got in there and he was still on his phone. Once we entered his room and he asked me to have a seat on the sofa, which I did and he was on his phone for a while and then he made me speak with someone, I don't know who it was, and they said 'you know I was listening to Harvey, you know, you should just be a good girl for him.' And of course at this point still, I feel stupid now I still didn't think anything, I was like okay, like I'm here. You know, with Harvey, who for me I've seen as like a legend of Hollywood and he could be anything possible."

3. Wide, press conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

++NOTE GRAPHIC LANGUAGE USED++

"He took hold of me and pretty much forced me to walk with him to the bathroom where he stood me in front of the mirror, and he stood behind me and I was like, 'what are you doing?' And he's like touching me, rubbing me and he's like, 'just relax.' And I'm telling him to stop and he would raise his voice, but at the same time he kept reassuring me that everything's going to be okay. And he was rubbing my breast and like, he placed his leg between mine from behind and was rubbing against my vagina and, and he pulled my, because I had a dress on at the time and he pulled it down exposing my breasts and all. I felt so stupid."

5. Wide, press conference

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

"This was all done in front of the mirror and he said to me, 'don't worry I'm not going to ask you to suck it. And he then gripped my hand and forced me to rub his penis up and down. And I kept saying, like, no and I just felt like, so stupid. But at the same time I think a massive part of me had shut down because going through it all now, it makes no sense that I didn't run out of the room and all I was able to do is just to say, no and why and him reassuring me and me believing."

7.Wide, press conference

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

"For me, when meeting him was, you know, he was like everything. Now I feel stupid to put so much trust in him but that's what I thought at that time and I, the reason why I said nothing for so long because I thought if I ever wanted an opportunity in this industry how would I ever, small me, speak of this man to say he has been inappropriate with me. People would look at me and say, 'who the hell is this girl?"

9. Wide, press conference

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

"I never thought I would ever be able to talk about this."

11. Wide, press conference

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeff Herman, attorney for Kadian Noble

"Harvey Weinstein enticed and coerced Kadian to come up to his hotel room with the promise of helping her with her career and that he, once she was in the hotel room he used force, he used coercion, he use fraud to get her to engage in a commercial sex act, which is defined as this quid pro quo."

13. Wide, press conference

An aspiring actress who met Harvey Weinstein by chance in 2014 detailed in tears Tuesday how the media mogul made her stand in front of a mirror in his hotel room in Cannes, France, while he stood behind her, groping her and forcing her to perform a sex act after pretending to be interested in her career.

Kadian Noble, 31, filed a federal lawsuit in Manhattan court under a sex trafficking statute. Her attorney Jeff Herman said the lawsuit works under the statute that states a U.S. citizen is guilty if he or she engaged in a commercial sex act overseas because Weinstein is a U.S. citizen who coerced Noble into acts in exchange under the guise of helping with her career.

"By offering Kadian help with her career, and then getting her to comply with his advances — that's the quid pro quo," Herman said. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

A spokeswoman for Weinstein said he "denies allegations of non-consensual sex" and "has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances."

Noble detailed the incident to reporters, saying that she met Weinstein by chance in 2014 at an after-party for the British Academy Film Awards, where he introduced her to Oprah Winfrey and Naomi Campbell, and she felt dazzled and lucky when he said he was interested in her.

He told her to contact an assistant and send them a demo reel. Later that year, he approached her in a hotel lobby at Cannes, which flattered her, and he suggested they look at her reel in his hotel room, she said. But when she got up there, it slowly dawned on her he was after something else.

He grabbed her arm and stood her in front of a mirror where he groped her and then forced her to perform a sex act, she said.

"And I kept saying no, and I just felt so stupid. But at the same time a massive part of me had shut down. It makes no sense that I didn't run out of the room. And all I was able to do was just say no."

She said after the incident, his assistants never got back to her.

Noble, who lives in London, said she reported details of the crime to the NYPD in recent weeks, which is investigating claims against Weinstein. In recent months, the scandal has widened to include allegations made by at least 75 other actresses, models and others. New York police have been investigating a 2010 rape allegation that could result in criminal charges.

Another civil lawsuit was filed Monday in London by a different woman who was not identified. Her attorney Jill Greenfield says her client was seeking damages for "personal injury" plus expenses and "consequential loss" arising out of a series of sexual assaults by Weinstein. Civil claims for rape and sexual assault are uncommon in Britain.

New York - 28 November 2017

1. Wide, press conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

"We got to his hotel room and he was on his phone the whole time while we were walking upstairs and then we got in there and he was still on his phone. Once we entered his room and he asked me to have a seat on the sofa, which I did and he was on his phone for a while and then he made me speak with someone, I don't know who it was, and they said 'you know I was listening to Harvey, you know, you should just be a good girl for him.' And of course at this point still, I feel stupid now I still didn't think anything, I was like okay, like I'm here. You know, with Harvey, who for me I've seen as like a legend of Hollywood and he could be anything possible."

3. Wide, press conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

++NOTE GRAPHIC LANGUAGE USED++

"He took hold of me and pretty much forced me to walk with him to the bathroom where he stood me in front of the mirror, and he stood behind me and I was like, 'what are you doing?' And he's like touching me, rubbing me and he's like, 'just relax.' And I'm telling him to stop and he would raise his voice, but at the same time he kept reassuring me that everything's going to be okay. And he was rubbing my breast and like, he placed his leg between mine from behind and was rubbing against my vagina and, and he pulled my, because I had a dress on at the time and he pulled it down exposing my breasts and all. I felt so stupid."

5. Wide, press conference

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

"This was all done in front of the mirror and he said to me, 'don't worry I'm not going to ask you to suck it. And he then gripped my hand and forced me to rub his penis up and down. And I kept saying, like, no and I just felt like, so stupid. But at the same time I think a massive part of me had shut down because going through it all now, it makes no sense that I didn't run out of the room and all I was able to do is just to say, no and why and him reassuring me and me believing."

7.Wide, press conference

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

"For me, when meeting him was, you know, he was like everything. Now I feel stupid to put so much trust in him but that's what I thought at that time and I, the reason why I said nothing for so long because I thought if I ever wanted an opportunity in this industry how would I ever, small me, speak of this man to say he has been inappropriate with me. People would look at me and say, 'who the hell is this girl?"

9. Wide, press conference

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Kadian Noble, actress:

"I never thought I would ever be able to talk about this."

11. Wide, press conference

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeff Herman, attorney for Kadian Noble

"Harvey Weinstein enticed and coerced Kadian to come up to his hotel room with the promise of helping her with her career and that he, once she was in the hotel room he used force, he used coercion, he use fraud to get her to engage in a commercial sex act, which is defined as this quid pro quo."

13. Wide, press conference

POLANSKI'S VICTIM ASKS JUDGE TO END CASE AGAINST DIRECTOR

Roman Polanski's sexual assault victim asked a judge Friday (09 JUNE 2017) to end the 40-year-old case against the fugitive director, but there was no indication her plea would bring an end to the lengthy court saga.

Samantha Geimer told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon that she wanted the case to end, either with an outright dismissal or by the judge sentencing Polanski without him being present. Polanski's repeated requests for the same rulings have been denied.

Gordon said he would take Geimer's comments into consideration and did not issue an immediate ruling.

Geimer described herself as more of a victim of the criminal justice system than of Polanski.

Geimer said before she addressed the court that she was terrified, but felt compelled to tell Gordon her thoughts on the case.

"Consider a dismissal of the case in light of the facts which are known at this time as a way to expedite a conclusion to a 40-year sentence which has been imposed on the victim of a crime as well as a perpetrator," Geimer suggested to the judge.

Geimer, 54, has long supported Polanski's efforts to end the legal saga that limits his freedom, but Friday was the first time she's appeared in court on his behalf, Polanski's attorney Harland Braun said.

"My mother and grandmother, my father, my stepfather, my husband, my three sons have endured terror that has faded to fear, panic that has faded to anxiety, never knowing when or where they may be forced to face as unfairly unending case. I know Roman's family has suffered as well. We are human beings, not wins and losses. I now have become a grandmother. I implore you to consider that now a fifth generation of my family may be unfairly burdened and resolve this matter without the spectacle of arresting and incarcerating a 83- year-old defendant for the benefit of the egos involved in this case. I do not want to have to explain to my grandaaughter why she can't go outside or answer the phone or why there are camera crews outside my home and eventually what happened to her nana in 1977," said Geimer.

The Oscar-winning director has been a fugitive since he fled to France in 1978 on the eve of sentencing for having unlawful sex with a minor. Prosecutors dropped charges that he drugged, raped and sodomized Geimer when she was 13 years old.

Polanski feared the judge was going to renege on a plea agreement and send him away for more time than the six weeks he served in prison during a psychiatric evaluation prior to sentencing.

His lawyers have been fighting for years to end the case and lift an international arrest warrant that confined him to his native France, Switzerland and Poland, where he fled the Holocaust.

The warrant prevented Polanski from collecting his Academy Award for best director for his 2002 film "The Pianist." He was also nominated for 1974's "Chinatown" and 1979's "Tess."

Polanski, 83, is trying to get the Interpol warrant lifted so he can move freely among most of the 190 countries in the global policing network. If that happened, the California warrant would remain valid.

Polanski contends he is the victim of judicial misconduct because the now-deceased judge who handled the case suggested in private remarks that he would not honor a plea agreement. It called for no more time behind bars for the director after he spent 42 days in a prison undergoing a diagnostic screening.

The hearing Friday was part of an effort by Braun to get the court to unseal testimony by the now-retired prosecutor in the case, who is believed to have testified in a closed session about backroom sentencing discussions.

Braun wants to use the transcript to show Polanski has served his time so the international warrant is dropped. Braun also argues that Polanski served an additional 10 months under house arrest during a failed extradition effort from Switzerland in 2010.

Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee urged the court in a Thursday filing to reject Polanski's latest efforts, saying two previous judges and an appeals court have ruled against him.

"The people implore this court to deny defendant's motions and to summarily deny any future request to re-litigate these issues absent a showing of new facts or a change in circumstance," Hanisee wrote.

Judge Scott Gordon has rejected Polanski's efforts to resolve the case in the director's absence or with a promise that he wouldn't be sentenced to more time or be arrested if he voluntarily returned for a sentencing hearing.

Geimer has previously said she forgives Polanski for the assault that happened at Jack Nicholson's compound in the Hollywood Hills during a March 1977 photo shoot.

Polanski plied the girl with champagne and part of a sedative pill before raping her, according to grand jury transcripts. Nicholson was not home at the time.

Geimer sued Polanski and reached a settlement in 1993 for $500,000 that included over $100,000 in interest payments. Her longtime lawyer Lawrence Silver did not return phone and email messages seeking comment.

The Associated Press doesn't typically name victims of sex abuse, but Geimer went public years ago.

She wrote a memoir titled "The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski" four years ago. The cover features a photo shot by Polanski.

POOL

Los Angeles - 9 June 2017

1. Wide, courtroom

2. Close, Samantha Geimer

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Harland Braun, attorny for Roman Polanski: "And the victim who is present in court who has for at least a decade indicated that she wants the case over, that she has basically forgiven Mr. Polanski, as much as anyone can. Mr. Polanski has accepted moral responsibility and legal responsibility."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Geimer, sexual assault vicitim: "I stand before you no longer afraid and with hope that you will consider my plea for justice and relief. Without dismissing Mr. Polanski's shared responsibility for the 40-year ordeal that Judge Rittenband and the district attorney's office have forced upon me, I would implore you to consider taking action which can finally bring this matter to a close as an act of mercy to myself and my family."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Geimer, sexual assault vicitim: "First I would like you to, I would like to ask you to consider sentencing Mr. Polanski to time served in absentia."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Geimer, sexual assault vicitim: "At the very least you could recall the international warrant which has been denied by the respective courts of Switzerland and Poland in part because the request contained false and misleading information."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Geimer, sexual assault vicitim: "Last consider a dismissal of the case in light of the facts which are known at this time as a way to expedite a conclusion to a 40-year sentence which has been imposed on the victim of a crime as well as a perpetrator. My mother and grandmother, my father, my stepfather, my husband, my three sons have endured terror that has faded to fear, panic that has faded to anxiety, never knowing when or where they may be forced to face as unfairly unending case. I know Roman's family has suffered as well. We are human beings, not wins and losses. I now have become a grandmother. I implore you to consider that now a fifth generation of my family may be unfairly burdened and resolve this matter without the spectacle of arresting and incarcerating a 83- year-old defendant for the benefit of the egos involved in this case. I do not want to have to explain to my grandaaughter why she can't go outside or answer the phone or why there are camera crews outside my home and eventually what happened to her nana in 1977."

7. Medium, Samantha Geimer walks back to seat in courtroom

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Gordon, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge: "You are, your courage as a survivor is noted and I thank you for that."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles - 9 June 2017

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Harland Braun, attorney for Roman Polanski: "I am not defending his (Polanski) conduct. I'm trying to straighten out a dishonest system."

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Harland Braun, attorney for Roman Polanski: "If it got dismissed it would either be one of two reasons. One, it should be dismissed on the merits or the judge was very smart and realized he could put an end to an entire scandal by getting rid of this case, so one of the two, but I'd be happy with either result."

11. Wide, Harland Braun shakes hands with man outside courtroom