Roman Polanski
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"Mr. Polanski can now move freely," Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf declared. "He's a free man."
The Swiss government ruled that he will not be extradited to the United States to face sentencing for having sex with a 13-year-old girl more than 30 years ago.
The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police said the U.S. had failed to turn over certain documents requested by the Swiss. The department also said Polanski could expect not to be arrested and deported because the U.S. knew of his frequent presence there over the last few years but never acted on it.
Polanski has already been released from house arrest. Talk about a lucky break for this guy. So what’s next for him? Although the U.S. cannot appeal the decision, he’s still a fugitive here in the states.
"That warrant remains outstanding," Los Angeles Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini said, adding that Polanski could be arrested and sent back to the U.S. if he traveled to another country that has an extradition deal with the United States.
No word on what the next step will be for U.S. authorities. But we’re sure they’re not happy about this decision and will continue to try and bring Polanski to justice.
Lawyer Jon Mitchell Jackson, who is not involved with the case, tells Hollyscoop, “Roman Polanski is a fugitive and should be extradited by Switzerland to the United States. Thirty two years ago Polanski raped a child and since then, he’s used his celebrity status to make a joke of our legal system. I can’t think of one legitimate reason why this child rapist—and that what he is—should not be held accountable for his actions.”
Do you think he got off too easy?
May 14, 2010
The woman is British actress Charlotte Lewis, and she’s hired Gloria Allred to represent her in the case. They held a press conference today to discuss the incident that allegedly took place in the director's Paris apartment.
"Mr. Polanski knew I was only 16 years old when he met me and forced himself upon me in his apartment in Paris," Lewis, now 42, said. "He took advantage of me, and I have lived with the effects of his behavior ever since it occurred."
While the legal age of consent is 15 in France, Allred is alleging that rape should not be contingent on a woman’s age. "I don't believe that is relevant for reasons that have to do with the particular facts that she has alleged to the LAPD and to the D.A.," Allred said. "In other words, that is not essential to the allegations."
What’s interesting about this case is not only the fact that Lewis has waited more than 25 years to come forward, but that she appeared in the Polanski-directed film Pirates four years after the alleged rape.
But Allred said, "The defense, for example, may wish to portray their client as a loving father, and a law-abiding citizen after he fled and failed to appear for his sentencing. The judge, however, can also consider credible claims of predatory conduct after Mr. Polanski fled when determining the appropriate sentence for Mr. Polanski."
"If the court believes and gives weight to Charlotte's allegations, then Mr. Polanski deserves no compassion for the commission of his original crime to which he entered a plea, and no compassion for his age or the number of years that have passed since that crime was committed.”
Lewis plans on testifying under oath if necessary. It would be odd for someone like her to make this whole thing up—do you believe her?
September 28, 2009
Image by wenn.com
However, one defense attorney believes the director's freedom is imminent. The Swiss Justice Ministry insisted: "There was a valid arrest request. We knew when he was coming - that is why he was taken into custody. He is in provisional detention with view to extradition."
French officials have pledged to help Polanski, who is a French citizen, but also owns property in Switzerland, which is where he was arrested.
French Minister of Culture and Communication, Frederic Mitterrand, said he was “deeply shocked” by the arrest and had discussed the matter with President Nicolas Sarkozy.
In a statement, the minister spoke of his “astonishment”, saying he “regretted in the strongest way that a new ordeal has been inflicted on someone who has already gone through so much."
Polanski is expected back in the states before the end of this week and faces spending the rest of his life in jail. For more on Roman Polanski's arrest and his fate check out Popeater.com.
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