Roman Polanski

**gmwise** · 10-06-2009, 10:58 AM

The Swiss Justice Ministry says it has rejected an appeal from Roman Polanski to be released from prison pending his possible extradition to the United States.
Ministry spokesman Folco Galli told The AP on Tuesday that the government maintains there is a high risk that Polanski might flee if released from custody.
The appeal is separate from a court case Polanski's legal team filed last week that also seeks the 76-year-old director's freedom.
Polanski was arrested Sept. 26 as he arrived in Zurich to receive an award from a film festival.
U.S. authorities asked for his apprehension and want him extradited for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl.

Glad they rejected one of those appeals.

**mugofbeer** · 10-06-2009, 11:56 AM

So, is there some reason why, after 30+ years, the US is just now pursuing this issue?

**PennyQuilts** · 10-06-2009, 12:10 PM

Mugs, I don't know of a specific reason on the timing but I couldn't be happier. Damned perverted predator. Him, I mean.

**JohnDenver** · 10-06-2009, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by mugofbeer

So, is there some reason why, after 30+ years, the US is just now pursuing this issue?

LA county has tried 6 times over the years to get Switzerland to apprehend him. Roman owns a house in Switzerland and he thought he was safe there. This time, he wasn't. Why did they listen this time? I don't think anyone knows that. It is about time though.

**gmwise** · 10-06-2009, 12:56 PM

Prosecutors sent a provisional arrest warrant to the U.S. Justice Department, which presented it to Swiss authorities. On at least two previous occasions, the district attorney’s office has received reports that Polanski had travel arrangements to countries with extradition treaties with the U.S. and prepared paperwork for his arrest, Gibbons said.

“But in the end, he apparently found out about it and didn’t go,” she said.

""He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse. In exchange, the judge agreed to drop the remaining charges and sentence him to prison for a 90-day psychiatric evaluation.

However, he was released after 42 days by an evaluator who deemed him mentally sound and unlikely to offend again.""

Polanski and the victim, Samantha Geimer, reached a $500,000 settlement in October 1993, according to documents recently released in Los Angeles.
He said in a interview he was glad it was behind him....

I dont see how he thought that was the case...

If that was my daughter it would have been.....shotgun style

**kevinpate** · 10-06-2009, 05:38 PM

One article I read claimed it was because they never knew he was there before, until after he left, but this time it was well known he was coming.

Probably a convenient sound bite, if perhaps not entirely accurate, but who knows.

**gmwise** · 10-06-2009, 07:23 PM

I dont think so Kevin.
I think all the pressure brought to bear through financial and diplomatic and trade scare the beejamies out of the Swiss.
It cut to the wallet the place where they live.lol

**nighttrain12** · 10-07-2009, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by gen70

I think he should have gone to prison a long tme ago. What gets me is that the girl accepted money from the creep. Kinda sounds like off-setting penalties.

What's wrong with a convicted criminal paying money to his victim? It's not like she refused to testify in the criminal case and only took the money. She did testify and he was convicted. Once he serves serious jail time, he is in effect getting punished twice, criminally and civilly.

**gmwise** · 10-08-2009, 11:54 AM

Nighttrain12,

I would agree if Polanski served time. He didnt.
He had a psy evaulation before he was sentenced.
He ranned before the sentence was issued.