Roman Polanski (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
According to The Associated Press, Roman Polanski, the Oscar winning filmmaker behind The Pianist, was arrested Sunday, for charges of having sex with an underage girl 32-years ago. He was in Switzerland to receive an honorary award at the Zurich Film Festival when he was obtained. In 1978, Polanski fled the United States one year after pleading guilty to the charges.
''There was a valid arrest request and we knew when he was coming. That's why he was taken into custody, told ministry spokesman Guido Balmer to the AP. “The U.S. would now need to make a formal extradition request.”
The victim, Samantha Geimer, has actually joined Polanski in an attempt to have the charges dismissed claiming she also wants the case to end. During the time of the crime, Geimer said Polanksi pilled her with champagne and half a Quaalude.
Polanski won a Best Director Oscar for the 2002 Holocaust film The Pianist. Given that he is not allowed back in the country, Polanski did not attend the ceremony to accept the award. This and the original crime are featured in the documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired.
Source: TV Guide
Comments