Roman Polanski Arrested

[Sionnach Glic]

Director Polanski Arrested On 1978 Warrant
27 September 2009, 11:18

Roman Polanski was facing extradition to the US after he was taken into Swiss custody on a 1978 arrest warrant.

In a statement the Zurich Film Festival said the Oscar-winning director was held on his arrival in Switzerland.

A spokesman for the city's police confirmed Polanski had been detained, but gave no further details.

The Swiss Justice Ministry was reported as saying he would be extradited to the US.

Polanski was making a film of the Robert Harris book The Ghost, who told Sky News he was "utterly stunned" by the arrest.

"The warrant is 31 years old and Roman Polanski has a house in Switzerland, I have worked with him there two or three times in the last year or so," he said.

"He has travelled freely throughout Europe and in Switzerland - filming has been based in Germany.

"He has just come back from a holiday in Greece back.

"I'm amazed this should happen now, and I cannot begin to fathom what reason lies behind it."

Polanski fled America more than 30 years ago after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

The 76-year-old has been unable to travel to the US since the warrant was issued.

Polanski, who is a French citizen, has been trying to have the case thrown out on grounds of misconduct.

The director claims the now-deceased judge who arranged a plea bargain later went back on it.

In May, a Californian judge dismissed Polanski's bid because he failed to appear in court.

Victim Samantha Geimer, now 45-years-old, has also called for the case to be dismissed and the saga put to an end.

She has already sued Polanski, reaching an undisclosed settlement.

The director had been due to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival, organisers said.

Polanski's early films include Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown.

More recently, he was awarded the 2002 best director Oscar for The Pianist and released a remake of the Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist in 2005.

In 1969 Polanski's pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, was brutally murdered along with four other people by followers of Charles Manson.

Cult member Susan Atkins, convicted in 1971 for her part in the killings, died in prison last week.

[Mark]

And of course the girl he had sex with lives in Hawaii now, over on Kauai. Kinda odd how she could afford that, isn't it?

What IS the statute of limitations on statutory rape I wonder?

[Mikey]

Apparently, greater than 31 years.

[Lazar]

What IS the statute of limitations on statutory rape I wonder?

I believe it's irrelevant in his case because he pleaded guilty to the charge before fleeing.

[Graham Kennedy]

He claims the DA and judge conspired to renege on a deal they offered him, if I recall correctly.

I dunno about this one, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, do the crime, do the penalty. How long it takes shouldn't be an issue.

On the other... the girl herself is something like 43 now. From what I've read she says she was willing back then and has no regrets about what happened at all, and would much rather everybody just forgot about the whole thing.

So what exactly is served by locking this guy up? What good does it do?

[Lazar]

On the other... the girl herself is something like 43 now. From what I've read she says she was willing back then and has no regrets about what happened at all, and would much rather everybody just forgot about the whole thing.

From what I've seen, her position is that she was coerced, but she thinks the charges should be dropped.

[Tyyr]

So what exactly is served by locking this guy up? What good does it do?

The point is made that you can't just go on an extended European holiday and be ok in the eyes of the law.

I'm glad the woman has come to terms with what happened and has moved on. The law doesn't have that luxury.

[Graham Kennedy]

So what exactly is served by locking this guy up? What good does it do?

The point is made that you can't just go on an extended European holiday and be ok in the eyes of the law.

Do you really think that is an issue? Is there a flood of US child molesters who have run off to France for thirty years since Polanski did it? If they don't extradite him, do you really think it would instigate such a flood?

I'm glad the woman has come to terms with what happened and has moved on. The law doesn't have that luxury.

Actually in this case it probably does. I'm not a lawyer but extradition is rarely a cut and dried thing and judges often have discretionary powers.

[Nickswitz]

I think the bigger thing they are trying to prove is that just because you are a celeb you still can't get away with things... Which, after this long I think that no one really knew him besides as Sharron Tate's husband...

[Tsukiyumi]

I know him as the director of The Ninth Gate, which is one of my favorite movies.

[Graham Kennedy]

I think the bigger thing they are trying to prove is that just because you are a celeb you still can't get away with things... Which, after this long I think that no one really knew him besides as Sharron Tate's husband...

Well just for me, whilst I've long heard of Roman Polanski as a filmmaker, I never have and still don't have any idea who Sharon Tate might be.

[Deepcrush]

He committed a crime and should be punished for it. Simple as that.

[Tyyr]

Do you really think that is an issue? Is there a flood of US child molesters who have run off to France for thirty years since Polanski did it? If they don't extradite him, do you really think it would instigate such a flood?

Of course I don't. Given that the guy's been fine for over 30 years would have precipitated that if it was already going to happen. However it still sends the wrong message, that you can escape justice by just running off. Wait a while and things will blow over. Drug and rape a thirteen year old girl and you have to face no consequences. Heck, say that he's a rich man who's above the law because he's got the money to run or he's a famous man therefore the law doesn't apply to him. No matter how you spin it its still the wrong message.

Actually in this case it probably does. I'm not a lawyer but extradition is rarely a cut and dried thing and judges often have discretionary powers.

So because a victim put her life back together and moved on the man who raped her can just slide? I dunno but again it seems like a bad precedent to say that if a victim can recover on down the road you don't have to pay for your crimes.

[Nickswitz]

I think the bigger thing they are trying to prove is that just because you are a celeb you still can't get away with things... Which, after this long I think that no one really knew him besides as Sharron Tate's husband...

Well just for me, whilst I've long heard of Roman Polanski as a filmmaker, I never have and still don't have any idea who Sharon Tate might be.

Really, Manson's first discovered victim, that's how I knew him. However I didn't realize how much he did, and I actually know a lot of his stuff, and a lot of people probably know him for his work... I first knew him because of my fascination with Charles Manson's murders...

[Mark]

I agree responablility shouldn't be avoided, but again, what is served by locking him up 31 years later. This is one of those times I'd take the victims request into the most serious consideration. If she's past it and says leave him alone, then perhaps thats the way to go.