Reuters reports that director Roman Polanski, facing extradition to the US for a thirty-one year old rape conviction, has been moved from his jail cell to seek medical treatment for an undisclosed condition. Polanski, whose lawyer has recently said was suffering from depression, is still in Swiss custody as he waits for US authorities to make an official extradition request.
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Comments (1-15) of 258 Add your comment
My prayers are with him..
Mine aren’t. My prayers are with the victim he drugged and raped as a child.
I agree with you Maggie
I agree with you completely, Maggie. The woman has never had any justice in this matter. She ‘forgives” Polanski because she is tired of having the media swarm all over herself, her children and her neighbors every time someone brings up the case of her rape.
I’m with pedun here. Even the victim forgave him. It’s only the people who demand justice.
In the state of California this type of crime is against the state. The confessed criminal can only be pardoned by the state, not the victim.
James — a half million dollars will make a lot of victims forgive their attackers. We shouldn’t prosecute child rapists when they have enough money to make everything go away.
@YK
Why not? We let the US government get away with the murder of women and innocent children. Ruby Ridge anyone? The US government murdered a woman and her son and the survivors where paid over 3 million dollars. The US government gets away with waaaaaaaaaay more horrendous crimes like the execution/murder of innocent men for crimes they did not commit then to add insult to injury they pardon the poor bastard.
James,
The victim has still not received the monetary settlement or any justice for this case. After 31 years she has moved on with her life. Good for her. But that does not excuse a then 40+ year old man from drugging and then sodomizing and raping a 13 year old girl. How would you feel if that was your daughter. He has admitted to his perversions and should suffer the consequences. He should have never run from the law to begin with.
He doesn’t want your prayers. Just send him your 13 year old daughter a foreign object and some roofers. That will cheer him up for you.
I believe it was a little more complicated than he just fled from justice,Judge Laurence Rittenband had already displayed his unpredictable behavior and his unhealthy attraction to celebrity cases and the media, Polanski felt the judge was grand-standing. If Polanski was really guilty of forcible rape, i.e. he really drugged a girl and forced himself on her, then why was the charges reduced?
Why would any D.A. agree to reducing the charges from violent forcible rape to statutory rape in the first place, that in itself indicates that there were probably mitigating circumstances involved in the case. Just why would Samantha Geimers attorney help arrange a plea bargain to reduce the charges from forcible rape of a minor by use of drugs to unlawful sexual intercourse which was the equivalent of statutory rape at that time?
Also I am not sure that it is known that Polanski’s probation officer, court appointed psychiatrist and Samantha Geimer herself all recommended to judge Rittenband that Polanski receive no jail time back in 1977. What rape victim,parent of the rape victim and attorney of the rape victim, would recommend (no jail time)? If Polanski really did drug her and rape her, there is no plausible defense as to why he shouldn’t be returned to America and face the courts, however if anything this is just another media frenzy circus. Just one more question that bothers me,with Polanski’s philandering and libertine reputation just why would a Mother send her physically precocious underage daughter to be alone with Polanski for any Photo-shoot, especially after Polanski had asked to photograph her topless during their first photo-shoot
If there’s grass on the field play ball?
He was just trying to become a true American by “playing ball.” Hes an inspiration for all immigrants! A role model!
my prayers are with him as well. i think all this “outrage” people feel are mostly from one continent: USA. and a few Swiss bureaucrats sucking up to USA.
John, How about I drug you daughter,mother,grandma? cousin? aND BANG THEM UP THE ASS?
The people of France lashed out against their government’s support of Polanski, causing the government to back down and say he was not above the law. Polanski’s biggest supporter in the French Government was the Culture Minister Mitterrand. After his public support of Polanski, it was publicized that in his memoir Mitterrand wrote about paying boys in Thailand for sex. In Poland, the government also backed down on its support of Polanski after public outcry against Polanski. So it isn’t just the US. BTW, the US isn’t a continent; it’s part of the North American Continent.
he served 46 days in jail and couldn’t come to the u.s. for many years, i’m ambivalent, especially considering his often tragic life, on whether he should be punished more for what he did 31 years ago. his victim has forgiven him.
It was 42 days in a psych ward for drugging and raping a child. He was supposed to do 90 days. His victim didn’t “forgive” him until many years later when he paid he huge $$$$.
Many people have horrific tragedies happen to them, and it doesn’t make them drug and rape a child.
From what I read, Polanski hasn’t paid her a dime. She is just tired of being dragged through the mud time and again and having her family have to relive the case over and over.
Samantha, I stand corrected. I looked this up and you are correct that he hasn’t paid her. She is indeed tired of the price that she has had to pay by being hounded by the media, and not being able to find peace. But I do not fault her in going after money, as she has probably had to pay for psychiatric help all these years. Also, she had to leave California in order to run from public notoriety. I hope she winds up getting everything he has, including that expensive home in France where he has been in “exhile.”
Yes he has paid her.
And too all the retards who say that “if you don’t want to see an old man go to jail you are in favor of child rape” – then you really are idiots. of course nobody is or has said that.
If he has paid, then why did his victim go to court to have him declared in default on his payments to her? She went to court about in the mid 1990’s to have the court make him pay, as he had never given her a dime. The court declared him in default and said that he had to pay interest. But there is no court record that he ever paid her anything.
he raped a 13 oy and ran from the state . federal offensive
wake up … shes been paid off.
so, it’s a fair exchange.
No price is fair to be rammed up the ass when you are 13!
NO!! She has not been paid off, no money was ever paid out.
Actually Polanski short changed the victim and never paid out. As part of plea bargaining over parts of his lewd conduct charges compensation was accepted. The actual drugging and sodomy charges still stands.
california cant afford this, he has millions fine him huge, make a reparation to his victim, dont bring this up anymore, she is so tired of the media camping in her yard when it comes up , she is trying to raise her family and have a life.
I will never support child rape, in any case, but even murder has prescription (20 years in France ; I guess it varies in the USA, according to the State) – The prescription is a recognition of the right to oblivion an forgiveness) – in France, and considering child rape, which is probably one of the most HORRIBLE crime, it is of 10 years after the child has become an adult (therefore 10 years after the child has passed 18) –
Here, in this case, it seems there is NO prescription at all. I don’t know the law in the State concerned, but it seems to me that 30 years of exile is enough for prescription… as for the MONEY COMPENSATION… this is one the US law characteristics that shock the French the most…. because absolutely NO money can compensate that kind of crime (or of most personal crimes) !!! –
Moreover, if the victime has to suffer another trial experience, SHE will relive it once more, and more, and more…..which, I guess, is not the intended purpose…
and sending one of the most talented filmmaker in jail for what he did ONCE (if there had been other occasion, they would be known by now), more than 30 years ago, would be nothing but REVENGE from the STATE… and certainly not serve JUSTICE, nor the VICTIM !!!
In the United States prescription is called the Statute of Limitations. Statute of Limitations varies state by state and also varies depending on the type of crime committed. To the best of my knowledge as a Canadian there is no Statute of Limitations on murder in the United States. I do not know what the Statute calls for in the case of child rape. It doesn’t really matter as Mr. Polanski was not wanted on rape charge. Mr. Polanski had already pled guilty to the charge of raping the child. A finding of guilty had already been registered against Mr. Polanski. Through fraudulent means Mr. Polanski fled from the United States to France before his sentence could be imposed. This makes him a fugitive from justice and there is no Statute of Limitations on fugitives from justice. The criminal must return and serve the time to which he or she has been sentenced for his/her crime. I don’t believe for two seconds that Mr. Polanski’s time in exile in the country of his birth was marked in any way by hardship or deprivation. As for the victim, she does not have to endure another trial. The only trial yet to take place is that of being a fugitive from justice. Mr. Polanski needs to stand up and be a man. He needs to accept ownership of his egregious behavior and he needs to accept the consequences of his behavior. It is an absurd notion that an individual can conduct their life with impunity as regards to the law just so long as they can stash themselves away into the loving arms of a country such as France before sentence for their abhorent rape of a child can be meted out. Do you really for two seconds believe that Mr. Polanski’s victim doesn’t already relive her nightmarish experience over and over and over again on a regular if not daily basis? It is not revenge by the State? It is justice to the law and it is long past time that Mr. Polanski served his time. The law does not make distinction for age, passage of time or whether or not a person is a great movie director. Mr. Polanski must stand to account for his behavior and accept his justice.
She’s forgiven him for herself, so that she could move beyond the incident, but that doesn’t mean what he did is okay and justifiable to go unconsequenced. It just means she is a truly wonderful person to be able to forgive and think of his family now. She also hates the press at her doorstep and found that the most challenging part of the trial/experience so was happy when it died down. The fact that it is back is most bothersome to her – but she’s never said he doesn’t deserve to be held accountable. She just wants that to be separate from her and I do hope the press leaves her alone this time around.
Also, when we are talking exile we are talking first class living in France with a bevy of gorgeous (some VERY young – under 18 -he learned nothing) women, able to do the work he loved, was admired by many, treated deferentially, and has a beautiful young model wife and little children. That’s a dream, not an exile.
I don’t understand it when people say he was in “exile”. He was born in France, and it was his main residence. He only came to the US to work. At the time the rape happened, he had only made 2 movies in the US (Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown). All of his other movies were made in France or Poland. When he left the US he simply went home. And he was dating a 15-year-old actess (Kinski) at the time.
“has a beautiful young model wife and little children.” Wow, what an horrendous crime, how perverted!
Please, you know that isn’t his crime. But it does show that his “exile” wasn’t the trauma his supporters claim.
Are you deliberately trying to be obtuse Carax? You’re not half as funny or intelligent as you think you are.
So heidi, you are just envious – you don’t want justice – you just want to punish someone you think has a better life than you.
You are a bad person.
RickyG, you are a bad person for making up something about Heidi. People keep saying that Polanski was punished enough by his “exile”, but Heidi correctly pointed out that his “exile” wasn’t a hardship at all. For you to turn that into Heidi not wanting justice, but rather wanting to punish Polanski out of jealousy, is something unjustified by her posting. Shame on you.
He is disgusting and should spend the rest of his life in jail. Too bad Whoopi Goldberg can’t share a cell with him for her: “It’s not rape, rape.”
Isn’t this the same Whoopie Goldberg who’s 14 year old daughter gave birth to a child? In what state is 14 the age of consent? She clearly didn’t care about her own child, so why would she care about a raped 13 year old?
15 – and in most of the world 15 is the age of consent. But then in most of the world the people aren’t as retarded as in america.
It is not 15 in most of the world. It’s 16 in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Belgium, Belarus, India, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Russia, Malaysia, Switzerland, and other countries. In Ireland it’s 17. In Malta, Vietnam, Peru, Egypt, Gambia and Turkey it’s 18.
That’s just some of the countries where it’s above 15. It was easy to find out this info. So I don’t know why you didn’t check it out before writing.
Here we go again, a bunch of ignorant people want to apply justice to Polanski after a mistake done 32 years ago. If you care so much about the sexual life of thirteen year old girls, why don’t you condemn owners of modeling agencies that are raping young girls every day around the world ?
A mistake? Missing the garbage truck is a mistake. Forgetting to let the dog out forcing him to pee on the floor is a mistake. Getting a thirteen year old child drunk, drugging her, raping her vaginally, sodomizing her and going on and on and on and on even though she is crying, struggling and begging you to stop is a felony. He is the same child rapist irregardless he committed the acts thirty two years ago or yesterday. And actually, as a matter of fact I do care enough about the sexual life of thirteen year old girls to wish they had enough self esteem to just frikkin admit they’d rather be reading a book or watching television than trying to win the favor and affection of the boy/man putting it to her. As for the modeling agency owners raping young girls around the world every day I hold them in the same amount of contempt I do Polanski.
Oh look what we have here, a rape apologist. Polanski is a pedophile. He raped a child and then ran before he could serve his sentence. He’s a pig.
Sorry Anna, that was meant for Bob.
Samantha, it doesn’t matter where your comment got posted, I appreciate the sentiment.
Freak, I do seriously wonder how many children you’ve forced yourself on. Sexual crimes are NOT “mistakes”. What a freaking loser weirdo. By this logic, none of the Nazis should have been prosecuted some years after the events because, hey, those people should get over it. Exactly what do you consider a reasonable time limit for excusing the lifelong scarring and eternal damage done to victims of child sexual abuse? But then again, I have to sincerely believe that those who excuse and defend this behavior are themselves card-carrying NAMBLA members.
“Sexual crimes are NOT “mistakes”.”
Correct, they indicate a very disturbed personality that needs help not jail time. Oh but I forgot, your all Christians in in America; hang em all high, incarcerate everyone to the letter of the law. No wonder you are such a screwed up police state and “moral” Christian gun culture.
Equating Polanski with the Nazis is a straw man as well as ignorant since he was one of their victims. Polanski did not kill six million Jews or perpetrate a horrible occupation upon the entire continent of Europe. Your perspective is extremely provincial.
Carax sees your strawman, and raises you one big fat red herring. Carax, you only pounced on what you saw as a straw man argument because it provided you an oportunity to morally equivocate (e.g., “Hey! Raping and sodomizing a young child isn’t anywhere near as bad as Nazi atrocities!”) — as if one could even be compared with (it was your comparison), let alone make the other somehow “not so bad” by comparison.
Polanski drugged, raped and sodomized a thirteen year-old child. That particular crime is just as punishable in Switzerland as it is in the good old “provincial” US.
The greater flawed logic is on your part. Your later argument by ridicule was not only provincial but logically flawed as well, and therefore irrelevant.
carax, please don’t bring up the defense that Polanski was a victim of the Nazis. Unlike many members of my family, he was never in a concentration camp. And none of my family that were lucky enough to survive went on to rape children.
no Steven, isembard was the one who brought up the equivalency to Nazi crimes, there isn’t even a comparison to what Polanski did and you are the one who is irrelevant and off track. Of course rape is punishable in Switzerland. That is not the discussion. The main issues are the broken down justice system in America and the facts as they stand in the case and according to you Polanski is guilty because he admitted it but you ignore the circumstances behind it and comment as if you were actually present when the crime was committed. What yo have to offer to this discussion isn’t worth shit on a stick.
and margo please remember just because Polanski wasn’t actually in the camps (his parents were) doesn’t mean he’s not a victim. if you don’t understand that you understand nothing.
The scarring comes from idiots like you who keep telling them “oh your life is ruined” – if you told them “get over it” – they would.
As for chasing nazis, its not justice – its just revenge and it does not make a better world.
ignorant? look in the mirror bob
Bob, this isn’t about the sex life of a 13-year-old; it is about an adult man drugging and raping a child. If any owners of modeling agencies are raping minors, then they should be held accountable as well.
No, it’s about Americans going on a sadistic and un-Christian witch hunt to satisfy their own selfish desires in a corporate run country of power elites that metes out little justice unless one has the money for lawyers. You are all big on principal when it comes to distractions like Polanski. “Christian” America does not understand the meaning of forgiveness, it is too busy torturing people, treating its own people like shit and continually starting wars all over the world. Observe the mote in your own eye before going after distractions like Polanski.
I wonder how many abuse victims in the poorer neighborhoods of Los Angeles are still waiting to get services because there isn’t any money left in the budget. If only the da’s office would spend the same massive amount of money on sexual assault crimes in those neighborhoods, I would feel that prosecutors were sincere. Actually, I think this more has to do with reputation and winning. It is LA. after all.
To me that’s the crime. Not same ancient bit of history that when persued won’t even benefit the victim — or ths state.
A rapist paying for his crime will ABSOLUTELY benefit the state, because justice will finally have been served. This man needs to go to jail. Just because horrendous crimes happen all over the country doesn’t make this crime any less horrendous. He needs to pay for what he did.
When a rapist or murder is convicted and pays his penalty, society is served. When a rapist is allowed to go free because he’s famous, no one wins. As for his crime being “ancient”, I’m sure his victim hasn’t forgotten her torture. Equally, I don’t expect to see Polanski at Manson’s next parole hearing asking the board to release Manson because Tate’s murder was “ancient”.
It doesn’t matter that she has forgiven him, plus didn’t she or her mother get some money off of Polanski? She was still 13 years old at the time of the incident and in most states other than Arkansas that is considered RAPE. Plus the fact that he left the country to avoid prosecution. It’s not like he didn’t know what he was doing at the time.
Actually no, she didn’t get a cent from Polanski even though she won the judgment against him.
Ah, another lie from the mob. Yes she did.
Add to it that the prosecution emanates from the state, not from the victim. Can you imagine how many crimes (murders, rapes, etc.) would be persecuted if tired, scared victims had to be the driving force in getting justice? As you say, she was 13, and that’s rape.
she was awarded a settlement in a civil action, but it was never paid, as i understood what i read. the press is so hard to understand sometimes, several different stories on the same actions.
Do Swiss prisons have communal showers? I hope he dropped the soap and got an extra-large Oscar trophy delivered backstage.
So you are admitting to being subhuman. How disgusting.
I was looking to see if he had treatment for a torn rectum muscle.
According to the accusations in this case (which aren’t in dispute, by the way) drugging and having sex with your victim despite her saying no would be called rape even if she wasn’t under age. Her being 13 made is even more despicable. And his running compounded his crime. He shouldn’t get to lounge in France and carry on his life, deftly avoiding situations where he might me extradited, then turn around and cry that he shouldn’t be punished because so much time has passed.
This man drugged, raped, and sodomized a CHILD. He has evaded punishment for 30 years. He deserves the same punishment that any other rapist or pedophile would receive.
People who are defending him DISGUST me.
Imagine if it was your child.
Ten to one, his removal for medical treatment is because he is acutely suicidal.
If he is suicidal, he brought it on himself. Even if he’s capable of feeling remorse for what he’s done, I have no sympathy for him.
I’m worried that he was moved because his supporters have arranged for his escape back to France.
No way!
He is probably going to try and escape. He loves life! Way to arrogant to be suicidal!
Why stop at life in prison- after all, you’re Americans- why not torure.
Oh wait, some are already advocating that….
Most of you screaming for your pounds of flesh on this thread are no better than he is.
It’s actually you (who are defending a rapist and pedophile) who are no better than he is. And by the way, I’m not American. I’m French.
He deserves to pay for his crime, just like any other rapist.
People like you make no sense to me.
Wow. Way to mix issues buddy. There are plenty of us who don’t care for torture or pedophiles. But nice job stereotyping an entire frikkin country dumbass
I understand your opinion. You sophisticated Europeans believe it is appropriate for older men to have sex with girls twelve and up (and I have seen such couples on the beach at Cannes). Just another reason why you are superior to us in every way.
no, Scott,just another reason why you are jealous of us.
TJ, Most Americans don’t believe in torture. Most of the people posting here just want Polanski to serve his sentence. He pled guilty to a crime but fled before sentencing. He should be treated like any other felon, and serve his sentence. The fact that people here don’t think he deserves any special treatment or sympathy because he is a celebrity doesn’t mean we are advocating for “pounds of flesh”, but rather for justice.
I would like your daughter to have a goo filled anus like she did at 13 years old thanks to Polanski so you can think accurately about this crime
Interesting how people proclaim guilt without knowing anything about the facts…I hope the Swiss reconsider and let him go…
It’s you Polanski apologists who are the ones sorely lacking in the facts.
And by the way, Polanski admitted it. He proclaimed his own guilt.
eddie Facts? He admitted his guilt. Duh. should be prosecuted, end of story, but no, because he has the resources (money) he was able to flee. Put this creep away for the rest of his miserable life.
Eddie, you can read the court documents online. Polanski pled guilty. He admitted his crime and guilt, so why should he be let go Eddie?
Dumb ASS……….He pleaded guilty!
He fully accepted and admitted guilt