Switzerland’s Justice Ministry announced today that it will not extradite Roman Polanski to the United States, the Associated Press reports. Swiss police arrested the director last September due to an outstanding American warrant; he was convicted here in 1977 of having unlawful sex with a minor but left the country before sentencing.
Jul 12
2010
08:18 AM ET
Switzerland will not extradite Roman Polanski
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So why arrest him in the first place? Pressure from the United States, perhaps? Why was that? Oh yeah, because HE HAD SEX WITH A 13-YEAR OLD GIRL.
“Had sex with” suggests some sort of consent on her part; he drugged her when she said no to his advances.
This is disgusting news. Pathetic excuses because of someones occupation. The law is the law.
Let all of Hollywood rejoice! (bunch of perverts)
That’s just pathetic. Apparently if you’re famous you can drug and rape children and not face consequences, no biggie. Unbelievable.
I am not in the least shocked, stay classy Switzerland … stay classy.
Let’s send all our sexual predators to Switzerland to be put up in mountainside chalets! Since the Swiss aren’t troubled by it, it’s a win-win.
…unless you’re a kid in Switzerland…
The problem isn’t Switzerland – what this article doesn’t mention is that they denied the extradition because people in the U.S. would not provide evidence that was being requested. So if you are going to point fingers and lay blame you might wanna look to the prosecutors in this case for the LAME way they have run this case from the start.
thank you! its like the prosecuters had him in their sights turned the gun on themselves and pulled the trigger! their arrogance helped create the situation. its not like the swiss did it on purpose just for laughs. its called the law. if roman polanski isnt above it the courts can’t be either.
striking a blow for the continuation of neutrallity.
Not surprised. In order for an extradition to occur, the crime has to be equally severe in both the country where the crime occurred and the country from which extradition is sought.
Having sex with a 13 year old girl in the United States = statutory rape
Having sex with a 13 year old girl in France/Germany = Tuesday.
And for the record, I love Roman Polanski movies, just not Roman Polanski.
my mistake, Germany should have been Switzerland.
predicting a lot of hate will be incoming for your sweeping statement above
Except it wasn’t just statutory rape, it was rape full out: the victim said no and Polanski drugged her. But apparently that doesn’t matter to Switzerland either.
The problem isn’t Switzerland – what this article doesn’t mention is that they denied the extradition because people in the U.S. would not provide evidence that was being requested. So if you are going to point fingers and lay blame you might wanna look to the prosecutors in this case for the LAME way they have run this case from the start.
I can’t believe we’re wasting SO MUCH MONEY on extraditing this one perv, whose victim doesn’t even care anymore. How about putting that money and effort into finding people who’ve committed serious crimes!
im just gonna dish out the hate on you myself. Your statement is just so wrong. So wrong. Its not how much money. Its about some poor little girl he raped. Regardless of how she feels, its still about stopping him doing it tto someone else
I agree! When the supposed “victim” no longer cares, the police should just leave it alone.
So now rape isn’t a serious crime?
Violent crimes are crimes against society at large as well as the victim. You don’t let violent criminals go just because their victims (or their survivors) have been intimidated into saying they want it to go away.
My thoughts exactly RectProp!!!
The victim doesn’t want to proceed because…a) She is tired of the publicity and the embarassment; b) Her mother was part of the “seduction” in the first place; c) Polanski paid them off a long time ago. If you knew anything about the justice systems (of most countries, including Switzerland), you would understand the arrest & prosecution of an individual isn’t about the victim or their wishes…it’s about applying the law and the consequences of breaking that law. Polanski knew EXACTLY what he was doing with that girl and understoode the consequences…he just decided his money and fame outweighed the possibility he would be punished. Looks like thanks to Hollywood apologists, poor prosecution, plus the money and influence Polanksi and his pals could bring to bear…he WILL get away with it. Oh, well. The crime was so long ago, right?
I can’t believe this D-Bag is going to get away with it…again. I thought it was going to be sweet justice that a 70+ year old was going to spend his last days incarceration. That would be a good ole’ trick called Karma.
I think Lindsay is booked on a flight there this morning
He may have been interested circa The Parent Trap, but she’s too old for him now…
No, so she can escape the authorities and flee before going to jail… get it? You’re absolutely right, Lindsay is 40 years old – way too old for Polanski
Attention pedophiles, raping children is now legal in Switzerland. I suggest you all get on the next plane.
Good. Even the woman in queston says he didn’t rape her. Leave it alone.
That’s a lie. She has never said he didn’t rape her. She’s said she no longer wants him to be prosecuted but only because she’s tired of the media circus that occurs every time this comes up. She has always maintained that he drugged and raped her, even now.
Agreed. It’s important to make that distinction.
One can only wish that there is a “Dexter” out there who will balance the books.
Rion, if it had been your child that was involved in this case, no matter how long ago, and the accused had pled guilty, knowing he had committed this disgusting act, would you be pleased to see that he could now continue living it up overseas after spending a minimal amount of time in a holding cell? Think about it…