Polanski Faces Two Years
Roman Polanski is wanted and desired by a Judge in Los Angeles.
United States has finally filed a formal extradition request to Switzerland for Roman Polanski. Swiss will discuss this in court soon, and Polanski’s attorneys can appeal their decision, and drag it out.
Polanski will remain locked up during his expected appeal, because he was denied bail last week. His attorney claimed that needed to be released, because his family would go bankrupt if he is unable to complete his latest film, “The Ghost.” It is the tenth film Polanski has directed since he became a fugitive in 1977.
A spokeswoman for California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said Polanski faces up to two years in prison. Under Swiss laws he can only be extradited for his original crime, not for jumping bail.
French Update
I previously wondered why French think Polanski should be freed, and I am more confused now.
There are now 833 names on the SACD petition, and three other prominent Frenchmen have argued that Polanski should be freed.
French President Nicholas Sarkozy said:
“I understand that people are shocked by the gravity of the accusations against Roman Polanski. But I add that it is not a good administration of justice to do this 32 years after the facts when the person concerned is today 76 years old.”
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, best known as co-founder of Doctors Without Borders said:
“A man of such talent, recognized in the entire world, recognized especially in the country that arrested him — all this just isn’t nice”
Finally, Frédéric Mitterrand, French Minister of Culture and Communication, and nephew of former President Miterrand said:
“To see him like that, thrown to the lions because of ancient history, really doesn’t make any sense”
Critics of Miterrand noted that in 2005, he published an “autobiographical novel,” The Bad Life, where he described having sex with young male prostitutes in Thailand. Mitterand responded, saying:
“I condemn pedophilia, which I have never in any way participated in”
Then why is he defending a pedophile?