Roman Polanski arrested in Zurich
 

Switzerland's artists, film directors and writers have angrily condemned the government for arresting Polanski, calling the action a "grotesque farce of injustice" and a cultural "scandal" that will bring Switzerland into disrepute.

The full story below:
"Roman Polanski, the film director, has been arrested in Switzerland in connection with a charge of having sexual relations with an underage girl.

The 76 year-old director is being questioned by police in Zurich over a 1978 arrest warrant issued in America.

He was in the Swiss City for the Zurich Film Festival and due to receive an award on Sunday.

But detectives took him into custody after raiding his hotel.

Two months ago Polanski asked a California appeals court to overturn a judge's refusal to consider his request to throw out a 1977 case in which he pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Polanski, who now lives permanently in Paris, fled America in 1978 before he was sentenced and is considered an international fugitive.

He has not re-entered the country since then, but appealed to have the guilty verdict overturned on the basis of alleged misconduct.

Polanski's lawyers alleged that the original trial judge, who is now deceased, improperly colluded with prosecutors.

The director would have risked arrest if he returned to the United States. His legal team said at the time of the judge's refusal that they planned to appeal against the decision."

Good.

He'll prolly get off lightly though :(

Doubt it. He fled the country in 78 and has had an outstanding warrant for his arrest since then in the States. Has also avoided every country since then that has extradition treaties with the US.

He flew into Zurich to receive a lifetime achievement award, and when he landed they arrested him. I actually find it hilarious.

He pleaded guilty - he deserves what he gets.

The mans is a pedophile. Throw hiim in gaol till he curls up and dies.
I like how left winged homos. Think that any time another artist gets arrested no matter what the charge, Its a crime against humanity. The arrest will "bring Switzerland into disrepute." Yeah, with whom> All the other pedophiles in the world?
"O No the swiss have arrested a child molester How terrible. what a backward nation." Fuck i hate artist.

So being left wing means you're homo. My politics are definally left of centre and I have no pity for rapist whether or not they are great directors or not. So i'm a homo then?

Actually me and my BF were just talking about pricks like you talking shite on the internet.

Ferox, rapist might be a little extreme. Technically, the sex was consentual. Now, I'm not saying that I believe he was right, because I think what he did was filthy, but he did not take the girl against his will. That girl still goes on record as saying the two were in love.

Secondly, when this incident happened originally, Polanski tepped right up to take his charges. He was sentenced to the usual punsihment for this type of thing. But then, the judge brought the charges back up again, demanding a higher penalty. The girl and her mother denied, saying that Polanski got what any ordinary citizen would get in a situation like this. I've seen interviews with the judge where he comes right out and says he doesn't like famous people, so he wanted to slap a life sentence on Polanski.

Now, again, I'm not saying that what he did was right. But the man has gotten wrongfully charged ever since the incident. Things are not quite black and white.

Charles Manson slaughtered Polanski's friends, wife, and unborn baby. Thousands walk around America weraing Manson t-shirts today. I don't hear any upset about that every year...

This is untrue.

She repeatedly says "No", and reports in an HBO documentary about the filmmaker that he gave her queloods and champagne. She also said during the photo shoot she was doing for Polanski for "Vogue", she felt awkward because he told her to change infront of him and from that point on knew she was where she shouldnt be alone with him.

So no, it was not consensual, and they werent in love.

Isn't it nice when we try and sum up people and their entire beliefs by pigeonholing them into one side or another of archaic political parties? I hope he can make movies from prison on supervised work release.

people this mentally ill people dont understand ...they cant be reasoned with ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFsdn...eature=related

I just found this. Its pretty disturbing actually how he acts and reacts to this mans question.