Where was Roman Polanski arrested after evading the law for so many years?
Director Roman Polanski, who fled the United States in 1978 after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in California, has been arrested in Switzerland. In a statement, the Zurich Film Festival, where Polanski, 76, was due to receive a lifetime achievement award, said the Oscar-winning director was held on his arrival in Switzerland Saturday. A U.S. warrant for his arrest was issued when Polanski left the country more than 30 years ago before his sentencing. Polanski, a French citizen, has never returned to the U.S. since then and has sought to have the case against him dismissed. The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police, which confirmed Polanski’s arrest on an outstanding American warrant, added that a decision to extradite him to the U.S. is subject to judicial procedure. “Why now?,” a friend of Polanski told PEOPLE on Sunday. “We don’t understand. Roman has been to Switzerland before so we don’t understand why he’s been arrested this time.” Earlier this yea
Despite a 30-year pending statutory rape charge, Roman Polanski’s had it pretty easy since his self-imposed exile from the United States. After fleeing the U.S. to escape a statutory rape charge stemming from inappropriate contact with a 13-year-old girl – which Polanski has never denied but instead says was “consensual”- he has lived in Europe, making films and mingling with the beautiful people. He sure seems to have a lot of people on his side. Even his victim, who is now 45, says it’s time to let the incident fade into history and drop the charges against the famous director. But not because she thinks Polanski is innocent – she’s just tired of all the publicity and wants to put it behind her. The woman whom Roman Polanksi was convicted of having sex with when she was a mere 13 years old is “absolutely clear” about one thing. She thinks the 30-year-old statuatory rape charge against the Oscar-winning filmmaker should be dismissed. “Surprised and disappointed” that the Los Angeles S
Director Roman Polanski, who fled the United States in 1978 after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in California, has been arrested in Switzerland. In a statement, the Zurich Film Festival, where Polanski, 76, was due to receive a lifetime achievement award, said the Oscar-winning director was held on his arrival in Switzerland Saturday. Sources: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20308474,00.
Director Roman Polanski, who fled the United States in 1978 after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in California, has been arrested in Switzerland. In a statement, the Zurich Film Festival, where Polanski, 76, was due to receive a lifetime achievement award, said the Oscar-winning director was held on his arrival in Switzerland Saturday. A U.S. warrant for his arrest was issued when Polanski left the country more than 30 years ago before his sentencing. Polanski, a French citizen, has never returned to the U.S. since then and has sought to have the case against him dismissed. The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police, which confirmed Polanski’s arrest on an outstanding American warrant, added that a decision to extradite him to the U.S. is subject to judicial procedure. “Why now?,” a friend of Polanski told PEOPLE on Sunday. “We don’t understand. Roman has been to Switzerland before so we don’t understand why he’s been arrested this time.” Earlier this yea
