Roman Polanski freed in Poland after US extradition bid

[Neighbor]

30 October 2014 Last updated at 09:40 ET
Roman Polanski freed in Poland after US extradition bid

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29834442 (tor-safe, ensure scripts disabled)

[photo]
Roman Polanski Roman Polanski was attending the opening of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews

Film director Roman Polanski has been released after being questioned by prosecutors in Poland over sex offences in the US.

He has been wanted by US police since 1977 after fleeing the country before he could be sentenced for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

US authorities contacted Polish officials as Polanski attended the opening of a Jewish museum in Warsaw.

The director of The Pianist and Chinatown was questioned in Krakow.

"Roman Polanski said he would comply with all requests made by prosecutors in this case and provided his address," Police justice ministry spokesman Mateusz Martyniuk told AFP.

"Prosecutors therefore decided not to arrest him in connection with a possible US extradition request."

The Polish government confirmed that the US had contacted authorities asking them to arrest Polanski after he travelled to Warsaw for the opening of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

Mr Martyniuk said Polanski's extradition was still possible, but as the US had not yet forwarded an extradition request, Polanski "is a free citizen and is free to travel".
Roman Polanski Polanski premiered new play The Fearless Vampire Killers in Paris earlier this month

The Rosemary's Baby director was held in Switzerland in 2009 after travelling to Zurich to pick up a prize at a film festival.

However, the extradition bid failed and he was eventually allowed to return to France.

He has been to Poland several times in recent years and was pictured on television at the opening of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

In 2010, the Polish prosecutor general said Polanski could not be extradited because under Polish law too much time had passed since the offences.

Police in Los Angeles charged the director with sex offences including rape in 1977 before he accepted a plea deal, but he fled the country on the eve of his sentencing.

Last year his victim, Samantha Geimer, now 51, published her account of what happened in a book called The Girl: A Life Lived in the Shadow of Roman Polanski.

Polanski is currently directing a stage show in Paris called The Vampires' Ball, but has said he wants to shoot a film on location in Poland on the condition he will not face extradition.

What I find amazing about this story is how relentless U.S. officials have been -- 37 years after the alleged incident, they're still after him. Even his alleged victim, Samantha Geimer, now in her 50s, just wants it to end -- every time Polanski appears somewhere, U.S. officials start up the extradition drumbeat again, and her name gets dragged into the news yet again.  She has even written a book, "My Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski".  She has forgiven Polanski, and just wishes it would go away.

Neighbor

[on the rocks]

Cheers to Poland for not Kowtowing to American imperialism in this case.
I don't understand who they think they are helping by beating this dead horse.  You lost this one.  Move on.

[Neighbor]

Cheers to Poland for not Kowtowing to American imperialism in this case.
I don't understand who they think they are helping by beating this dead horse.  You lost this one.  Move on.

The Americans are just trying to send a message.... "No matter how long it takes, no matter where you run, we will eventually get our hands on you. We will never give up."

Neighbor

[AWAWAW]

The Americans are just trying to send a message.... "No matter how long it takes, no matter where you run, we will eventually get our hands on you. We will never give up."

And that America can be incredibly petty, and will ignore the views of the victim in their pursuit for 'justice'.

[Neighbor]

The Americans are just trying to send a message.... "No matter how long it takes, no matter where you run, we will eventually get our hands on you. We will never give up."

And that America can be incredibly petty, and will ignore the views of the victim in their pursuit for 'justice'.

Tell me about it.  Samantha Geimer's ordeal is never going to end until Polanski dies, as that is the only way that the U.S. will ever quit chasing him.

Neighbor