Polanski, 76, arrested on 31 year old international warrant

by smkovalinsky | September 27, 2009 at 08:07 am

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Film director and producer Roman Polanski, 76, has been arrested in Zurich on an international warrant dating back to 1977-78. Extradition to the United States may be pending, and is being discussed as the film director is in detainment.

Polanski's attorneys say he has the right to contest arrest and extradition.

Some are charging that the Swiss government has double-crossed Polanski, as they were aware of what would transpire upon his arrival in Zurich for the film festival.

The arrest warrant is regarding the statutory rape of then 13 year old Samantha Geimer. Some years ago, Geimer had stated that she had forgiven Polanski and wanted to move on.

Roman Polanski, the director of legendary films including“Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby,” was arrested in Switzerland on a 31-year-old international warrant as he arrived to attend the Zurich Film Festival, the Swiss authorities said Sunday.

Mr. Polanski was detained by the police Saturday upon his arrival at the Zurich airport, said Guido Balmer, a spokesman for the Swiss Federal Justice Department. The director was being held in provisional detention in preparation for a possible extradition to the United States based on an arrest warrant dating to 1978.

Mr. Polanski, 76, was convicted that year in a California court of unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl whom he had lured to the home of Jack Nicholson and drugged. Faced with a prison term, he fled the United States just before his sentencing.

Samantha Geimer, the girl with whom Mr. Polanski had sex, has since publicly forgiven him.

Lawyers for Mr. Polanski sought to have the case dismissed last December, claiming that the release of a documentary called “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,” had showed “a pattern of misconduct and improper communications” among Los Angeles officials.

In Paris, the city in which Mr. Polanski now lives, the French culture minister, Frederic Mitterrand, said in a statement that he was “astonished” by the arrest.