Ignoring traditional notions of justice, Switzerland's Ministry of Justice announced that it would not extradite director Roman Polanski to the U.S. to face sentencing for child sex charges and for feeling the jurisdiction.
The 76-year-old was set free after being arrested in 2009 for the criminal case, in which he pleaded guilty to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Polanski admitted that he indulged in sexual relations with the girl after giving her champagne and quaaludes during a "photo shoot."
The director fled the jurisdiction and went to Europe before his sentencing, thus committing another crime.
Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf told CNN that the decision by the Swiss authorities was not based on whether or not Polanski was guilty. "It's not about qualifying the crime," Widmer-Schlumpf said. "That is not our job. It's also not about deciding over guilt or innocence."
According to CNN the extradition of Polanski was rejected because U.S. authorities did not produce certain legal records Switzerland required.
Polanski has been a fugitive since 1978, spending most of his time in France prior to his Switzerland arrest.
Comments
Los Angeles County District Atty. Steve Cooley
was grandstanding in the Polanski case,
expecting the 77-year-old director to return
again for some unknown resolution, possibly
more jail time. Polanski settled out of
court with victim years ago, who has begged
the DA for years to drop the case. Swiss
authorities got it right when the DA refuse
to hand over trial testimony. Cooley should
have worked with Polanski's attorneys and
resolved the case.
"The worst sorrows in life are not in its losses and misfortunes, but its fears."
-Arthur Christopher Benson
from csfoundation@gmail.com
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