http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090927/ap_on_en_mo/eu_switzerland_polanski

ZURICH – Director Roman Polanski was arrested by Swiss police as he flew in for the Zurich Film Festival and faces possible extradition to the United States for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl, authorities said Sunday.

Polanski was scheduled to receive an honorary award at the festival when he was apprehended Saturday at the airport, the Swiss Justice Ministry said in a statement. It said U.S. authorities have sought the arrest of the 76-year-old director around the world since 2005.

"There was a valid arrest request and we knew when he was coming," ministry spokesman Guido Balmer told The Associated Press. "That's why he was taken into custody."

Balmer said the U.S. would now have to make a formal extradition request.

He declined to explain why Polanski was never previously arrested in Switzerland, where he has often traveled or stayed. A 1996 interview with Canada's Menz magazine describes Polanski's visits to the luxury resort of Gstaad, where he regularly came to ski, attend festivals or escape from media pressure.

Polanski fled the U.S. in 1978, a year after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with the underage girl. The director of such classic films as "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" has asked a U.S. appeals court in California to overturn a judges' refusal to throw out his case. He claims misconduct by the now-deceased judge who had arranged a plea bargain and then reneged on it.

Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza had dismissed his bid to throw out the case because the director failed to appear in court to press his request.

The Swiss statement said Polanski was in "provisional detention for extradition," but added he would not be transferred to U.S. authorities until all proceedings are completed. Polanski can contest his detention and any extradition decision in the Swiss courts, it said.

Polanski has lived for the past three decades in France, where his career has continued to flourish, and he received a directing Oscar in absentia for the 2002 movie "The Pianist." He is married to French actress Emanuelle Seigner, with whom he has two children.

Polanski has not been extradited from France because his crime reportedly was not covered under treaties between the United States and France.

He has avoided traveling to countries likely to extradite him. For instance, he testified by video link from Paris in a 2005 libel trial in London against Vanity Fair magazine. He did not want to enter Britain for fear of being arrested.

In Paris, Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said he was "dumbfounded" by Polanski's arrest, adding that he "strongly regrets that a new ordeal is being inflicted on someone who has already experienced so many of them."

Those comments referred to the fact that Polanski, a native of France who was taken to Poland by his parents, escaped Krakow's Jewish ghetto as a child and lived off the charity of strangers. His mother died at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp.

Mitterrand's ministry said Sunday that he was in contact with French President Nicolas Sarkozy "who is following the case with great attention and shares the minister's hope that the situation can be quickly resolved."

Polanski worked his way into filmmaking in Poland, gaining an Oscar nomination for best foreign-language film in 1964 for his "Knife in the Water." Offered entry to Hollywood, he directed the classic "Rosemary's Baby" in 1968.

But his life was shattered again in 1969 when his wife, actress Sharon Tate, and four other people were gruesomely murdered by followers of Charles Manson. She was eight months pregnant.

He went on to make another American classic, "Chinatown," released in 1974.

In 1977, he was accused of raping the teenager while photographing her during a modeling session. The girl said Polanski plied her with champagne and part of a Quaalude pill at Jack Nicholson's house while the actor was away. She said that, despite her protests, he performed oral sex, intercourse and sodomy on her.

Polanski was allowed to plead guilty to one of six charges, unlawful sexual intercourse, and was sent to prison for 42 days of evaluation.

Lawyers agreed that would be his full sentence, but the judge tried to renege on the plea bargain. Aware the judge would sentence him to more prison time and require his voluntary deportation, Polanski fled to France.

The victim, Samantha Geimer, who long ago identified herself publicly, has joined in Polanski's bid for dismissal, saying she wants the case to be over. She sued Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement.

Zurich Film Festival organizers said Polanski's detention had caused "shock and dismay," but said they would go ahead with Sunday's planned retrospective of the director's work.

The Swiss Directors Association sharply criticized authorities for what it deemed "not only a grotesque farce of justice, but also an immense cultural scandal."

Kelly

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Ah yes Roman Polanski....his Rosemary's Baby is a rendering of the 'moonchild'/homunculus' ritual on celluloid...part of the 9th degree OTO...oops!

In fact...I'm not too sure how much of it is 'life imitating art' or vice-versa, in respect of Roman (I mean Roman as in Polanski, not the man who played Mercato cough,cough)...considering what actually happened!

Didn't this 'rape' of a minor occur at Jack Nicholson's place...something like that?

I think if you take the supposed real birth date of Rosemary's Baby...it actually matches up with the birth of John Cusack...all of which/witch, makes sense!

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

WTF is Lynch doing on the list FFS!!!

"All of them Witches!" to quote Mia Farrow...whose 'ex' Woody is also on the list, although obviously we'd be more shocked if it wasn't...considering some of his barely hidden tendencies with youngsters!

Have all these people on the list been filmed fucking various types...and filmed by Polanski?

Paedophilic rape, qualuudes and buggery your Honour!!!!

Thought I'd chuck this in the mix, as only a few years back I spent a lot of time looking into The Tate/LaBianca murders,  as well as 'Son of Sam' and the 'Zodiac' killings etc as there are links between all 3...well it appeared that way to me.

To be blunt...the 'Manson murders' imo (although Charlie was convicted of killing no one) are not what they seem or appear to be.

I was aware that he and his wife (Tate) had a penchant for filming themselves 'fucking' with other 'Hollywood' types back in the 60's...at least those are the rumours that went around at the time of the killings.

Alex Sanders (a protege of A Crowley/L Gardner) who annointed himself 'King of the Witches' (Alexandrian Witchcraft) had apparently during the filming for 'Eye of the Devil' (where he was an advisor) claimed to have 'initiated' the film's star Sharon Tate, into witchcraft. This is more than just idle rumour and the claim is also reiterated in the book 'Fire Child' by Sander's wife Maxine.

http://www.thewica.co.uk/Elders.htm (scroll down)

His counterpart in the US was Anton Lavey...who we all know played the role of 'satan' in Rosemary's Baby and acted as an advisor to Polanski...regardless of feeble attempts to pretend otherwise!  This obviously all leads to Manson (who was affiliated with OTO/Process Church/Church of Satan/Scientology etc).  Apparently Manson was exposed to the 'Process Church' as early as spring '67 at San Francisco's infamous 'Devil House' and he later claimed to have met the leaders of the 'Process' at the Polanski home, which he is known to have visited before the killings!!!!  (in fact Charlie was very familiar with the Polanski/Tate home, Manson knew both the owner of the Cielo Drive home, Rudy Altobelli, and the previous tenant, Terry Melcher (son of Doris Day), who along with Charlie was involved with the Process Church (as was John Philips, Cass Elliot's bandmate and another associate of Manson) Charlie was familiar with the LaBianca home as well; it was right next door to the home of Harold True, who had hosted LSD parties attended by Charlie and his followers before the murders. The Manson Family were also deeply involved in drug trafficking.

Sammy Davis Jnr has said of the victims who were killed at Tate's Cielo Drive residence "Everyone there had at at one time or another been into satanism". Some newspapers (denounced as sensationalism) were rife with reports that the Polanski's were satanists who hosted drug and sex orgies. Indeed just days before the murders a drug dealer was reportedly filmed being whipped at the house in an S & M ritual. Various celebrities were said to have been in attendance.  Actor Dennis Hopper spoke in interviews of sadistic movies being filmed at the house that featured some of Hollywood's biggest names.  Films found at the Polanski home could suggest an elite Hollywood wife-swapping operation...the Folger/Frykowski home also yeilded a box of erotic photo's of Hollywood's elite.

Another connection between killers & victims was provided by their shared interest in drug trafficking. Several of the victims including Frykowski, Folger and Sharon Tate herself...were linked to the trafficking of hallucinogens. Rosemary LaBianca was a known trafficker of 'methamphetamine' and likely other drugs as well.

To add author Joel Norris has noted, Charlie was 'a drug dealer and contract killer' and 'had become involved in underworld crime, murder-for-hire rings, and child pornography'.  Interestingly enough, Manson has said that the Family's most well known victims were involved in some of the same enterprises: "Don't you think those people deserved to die? They were involved in kiddie porn". According to Ed Saunders (wrote 'The Family') who interviewed numerous members and associates of The Family, Manson was also involved in the production and distribution of snuff films.

Most of the above info comes from David McGowan's book Programmed To Kill...and it reads like a Lynchian script/plot, doesn't it?

Well there you have it, well a dark take on it at least...HOLLYWOOD, the magickians wand (penis) sometimes traditionally made from 'Holly wood' from the Holly Tree.

Which brings me back again to 'art imitating life' and dare I say it....'life imitating art'.

Don't get me wrong people, but during Rosemary's Baby when Farrow has the party with her girlfriends (Tate is exclusively in this scene uncredited) and she (Farrow/Rosemary) then mentions her fear about 'Losing the baby'...my skin crawls! 

In Paris, Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said he was "dumbfounded" by Polanski's arrest, adding that he "strongly regrets that a new ordeal is being inflicted on someone who has already experienced so many of them."

Those comments referred to the fact that Polanski, a native of France who was taken to Poland by his parents, escaped Krakow's Jewish ghetto as a child and lived off the charity of strangers. His mother died at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp.

There's no business....like 'Shoah' Business...boom,boom.

Incensed by these developments I am forced yet again to dip into my book of unacceptable jokes: see above.

This is a tough one for me.  Usually when assessing a crime such as this, I have little difficulty rendering a judgment.  If he is returned to LA within the next 6 months and if there are additional charges, it will be just about the time I am once again due for jury duty.  As with the previous dozen + times I've done jury duty I'm sure I'd be dismissed but let's say I were not.  What would I think is a fair punishment???  Because he did admit the crime.  And he is a convicted sex offender.

So much to consider.

I feel a personal connection to the case on several levels.  The young girl was a teenage pal of two of our son's babysitters back in that era.  She attended the local high school our son would later attend. Back in 1972, I met Roman Polanski under unusual circumstances.  Let's just say that I know he is sexually deviant or he was so back then. 

I feel a special kinship to him regardless.  I read a Polanski biography, have seen the recent documentary (as of today a Part II is already in the works and know his personal history from childhood onward.  I've seen most of his films.  Some of them are among my favorites.  And gosh darnit, I like the guy.  Feel affection for him that can only be explained by the empathy I feel for his life combined with an awe for his talents.

But...

There is no doubt he committed a crime, which is a crime in most civilized societies.  13 years old.  "Cuddlieness" as the girl describe oral sex, intercourse, and anal sex.  Drugs.  Champagne.  No two ways about it.  The victim's mother was a dipshit and made a grave error in judgment by allowing her daughter to go with him but...

Roman Polanski committed the crime.  Wish he hadn't.  But he did.

And then...

...before sentencing, he fled the scene.  I understand why he did.  But still.  He compounded the crime.

Then...

... France allowed him to live there with carte blanche.  Compounding the crime and delaying justice.  After a few decades, the notion of the crime became a distant memory for anyone paying attention to the director's career.  Even the victim herself. 

But...

What the victim -- now a woman in her forties -- believes should happen now is interesting but not a deal breaker either way.  Crimes against individuals are crimes against the state.  It doesn't matter if the victim says, "Ah, that's okay.  Let him go."  Such a case is more difficult to prosecute but the victim's feelings cannot be a deciding factor once a crime is reported, a perp is arrested and the wheels of justice are in motion.

So here we are with an elderly man and justice delayed.  

I've been thinking that this may have been a set-up orchestrated with the Los Angeles D.A. and attorneys acting on Roman Polanski's behalf so that the whole issue may finally be resolved and that he would have the freedom to once again travel within the U.S. But that's just speculation.

I guess all that remains is the sentencing when he's returned to the US unless they intend to charge him with any additional crimes such as evading justice, flight, or whatever.  What is fair?  I read an interesting question today that Roman's supporters may want to ask themselves in all honesty.  "If Roman Polanski were a Catholic priest or a Republican senator, would these people feel the same way?"

I freely admit I would be inclined to cut him a break.  House arrest?  Community service?  I just don't think I could go along with imprisoning Roman Polanski though someone might be able to convince me that I'm a big hypocrite.  Pretty sure I am in this case.

So what do we all think?  Prison time?  How much?  

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Just noticed this from bluefrank:

Another connection between killers & victims was provided by their shared interest in drug trafficking. Several of the victims including Frykowski, Folger and Sharon Tate herself...were linked to the trafficking of hallucinogens. Rosemary LaBianca was a known trafficker of 'methamphetamine' and likely other drugs as well.

WHAT????!!!!! 

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

I'm enjoying this conversation with myself, so I'll continue. 

Didja see Chris Rock talking about Polanski on Jay Leno last night?

No, I wasn't up that late.

Check it out here on this link .  Pretty funny.

I will!  Thanks for the linky.

Susan/Nuart

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Ok, yes prison time 25 years-given his age. ( I'd say capital punishment but Chinatown was a great movie ; )

This case may have some effect in reducing future child a-- f-----g by pedophiles. Perhaps some 'charming' creep would think twice ? A red flag for this infamnia rather than an implicit green flag.

One prime reason for punishment is to serve as a warning to potential perpetrators and hopefully a deterrent to unconscionable (in this case) crimes.

By ANTHONY PALETTA

Amid the many reactions to director Roman Polanski's arrest last weekend in Switzerland more than 30 years after he fled the U.S. after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, none have been as strong as those of the international film community. A petition demanding his release has attracted over 100 film-world signatories, including luminaries from Martin Scorsese and Costa-Gavras to David Lynch and Wong Kar Wai.

I guess you could add DL above with Laura Palmer, a child rape victim and her suffering.  So, art is more important than reality to most of the international film brigade ?

As for a house arrest punishment, I understand Jack N. is leaving for a couple month vacation, maybe Roman could stay there ;)