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Depardieu fails to attend court on drink-drive charge Depardieu fails to attend court on drink-drive charge
(about 3 hours later)
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.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.
The actor's lawyer, Eric de Caumont, said he was in Montenegro, preparing for a film he will begin shooting shortly and meeting ministers. The actor, who was in Montenegro on Tuesday, denied he was a fugitive. He said the trip had been planned and he was ready to face justice "any time".
A late request for an adjournment was refused by the prosecutor. A late request for an adjournment had been refused by the prosecutor.
Depardieu has signalled he will plead guilty which will probably lead to a fine and a penalty on his licence.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.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. He was in Montenegro preparing for a film he will begin shooting shortly and meeting officials.
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. After talks with Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, he told reporters: "I did not flee judges or justice. The trip to Montenegro had been planned. I notified the court. I am ready to see them any time they like, provided I'm here to defend myself."
The film star received his Russian passport at the weekend but retains his French citizenship. The case centres on an incident in November, when Depardieu crashed his scooter in Paris while driving with three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.
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). 'Still French'
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". It is yet another brush with the French authorities. He has publicly opposed plans by the Socialist government to institute a top tax rate of 75%, and last month announced he was moving to Belgium.
'Shabby and unpatriotic' French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault branded the decision as "shabby". The film star in turn accused France's Socialist government of punishing "success, creation and talent".
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". The film star received a Russian passport at the weekend but retains his French citizenship.
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault branded Depardieu's decision to move abroad as "shabby and unpatriotic". He 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. Moscow 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.
French 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. Depardieu also denied 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." 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".
He made the remarks in Zurich where he was attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony in the company of Fifa boss Sepp Blatter.