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Depardieu fails to attend court on drink-drive charge Depardieu fails to attend court on drink-drive charge
(about 2 hours later)
Gerard Depardieu has stayed away from a Paris court where he faces a drink-driving charge, days after taking Russian citizenship in a tax row. Gerard Depardieu has failed to appear in a French court where he faces a drink-driving charge, days after taking Russian citizenship in a tax row.
Instead, the veteran actor is visiting the ex-Yugoslav republic of Montenegro, French media report. The actor's lawyer, Eric de Caumont, said he was in Montenegro, meeting the producers of a film he will begin shooting later this month.
He pleaded guilty earlier to riding a scooter while three times over the alcohol limit in November. A late request for an adjournment was refused by the prosecutor.
Depardieu's opposition to a new French top tax rate of 75% also prompted him to move to Belgium last month. Depardieu has signalled he will plead guilty which will probably lead to a fine and a penalty on his licence.
But his absence, and a second postponement of the case, will mean it is sent to the criminal court, where the judges are often less lenient.
Depardieu crashed his scooter in Paris in November while driving with three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.
The case is yet another brush with the French authorities. His opposition to a new French top tax rate of 75% prompted him to move to Belgium last month.
The film star received his Russian passport at the weekend but retains his French citizenship.The film star received his Russian passport at the weekend but retains his French citizenship.
On the eve of the court hearing, Depardieu was in Switzerland for the annual Ballon D'Or football award ceremony.
The BBC's Paris correspondent, Christian Fraser, notes that the actor's failure to appear before magistrates could mean the case being referred to a criminal court, which tends to be less lenient.
Wine
The charge of drink-driving carries a maximum fine of 4,500 euros (£3,660; $5,880) and a sentence of up to two years in prison, along with six penalty points.
On 29 November, he lost control of his scooter in Paris and crashed. A breathalyser test showed he had a blood alcohol rate of 1.8g per litre, more than three times the French legal limit of 0.5g.
Depardieu, who owns several vineyards, once admitted to drinking up to six bottles of wine a day.
Depardieu's tax row with the French authorities began last year after President Francois Hollande said he would raise taxes to 75% for those earning more than 1m euros (£817,400).Depardieu's tax row with the French authorities began last year after President Francois Hollande said he would raise taxes to 75% for those earning more than 1m euros (£817,400).
The film star, renowned for his roles in Cyrano de Bergerac and more recently as Obelix, announced in early December that he would move to Belgium, accusing France's Socialist government of punishing "success, creation and talent".The film star, renowned for his roles in Cyrano de Bergerac and more recently as Obelix, announced in early December that he would move to Belgium, accusing France's Socialist government of punishing "success, creation and talent".
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault branded his decision to move abroad as "shabby and unpatriotic". 'Shabby and unpatriotic'
In his new film, he will play the disgraced former French finance minister and Head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a man Depardieu has called "a little like all French people, a little arrogant".
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault branded Depardieu's decision to move abroad as "shabby and unpatriotic".
The actor has developed close ties with Russia and during his visit at the weekend hugged President Vladimir Putin, who described him as a friend.The actor has developed close ties with Russia and during his visit at the weekend hugged President Vladimir Putin, who described him as a friend.
Russia has offered him a flat tax rate of 13% if he stays in the country for more than half the year. On his trip to Russia he travelled to the central region of Mordovia, which has invited him to make his home there.Russia has offered him a flat tax rate of 13% if he stays in the country for more than half the year. On his trip to Russia he travelled to the central region of Mordovia, which has invited him to make his home there.
Mordovia is best known for its Stalin-era gulag prison camps.Mordovia is best known for its Stalin-era gulag prison camps.
French taxmanFrench taxman
But the actor said on Monday he was not turning his back on his country.But the actor said on Monday he was not turning his back on his country.
"I have a Russian passport, but I remain French and I will probably have dual Belgian nationality," he told French sports channel L'Equipe 21."I have a Russian passport, but I remain French and I will probably have dual Belgian nationality," he told French sports channel L'Equipe 21.
Under France's civil code, dual citizenship is permitted but it is unlawful to be stateless. A person must obtain another nationality before giving up French citizenship.Under France's civil code, dual citizenship is permitted but it is unlawful to be stateless. A person must obtain another nationality before giving up French citizenship.
Depardieu also rejected claims that his decision to move abroad was to avoid paying taxes. "If I'd wanted to escape the taxman, as the French press say, I would have done it a long time ago."Depardieu also rejected claims that his decision to move abroad was to avoid paying taxes. "If I'd wanted to escape the taxman, as the French press say, I would have done it a long time ago."
He made the remarks in Zurich where he was attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony in the company of Fifa boss Sepp Blatter.He made the remarks in Zurich where he was attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony in the company of Fifa boss Sepp Blatter.