Roman Polanski, legendary director was arrested in Switzerland on a 31-year-old international arrest warrant as he arrived to attend the Zurich Film Festival, the Swiss authorities confirmed. The Polish-born film director fled the U.S. in 1978 after pleading guilty in a rape case involving a 13-year old minor, Samantha Geimer.
more photos of Polanski below..
Polanski, 76 was convicted in 1978 in a California court of unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl, Samantha Geimer whom he had lured to the home of Jack Nicholson and drugged her with champagne and a sliver of quaalude tablet. Faced with a prison term, Polanski fled the United States just before his sentencing. He was 43 at the time.
Polanski has made repeated attempts to settle the case over the years but the sticking point has always been his refusal to return to the U.S. to attend hearings.
Polanski’s lawyers tried earlier this year to have the charges thrown out but a Los Angeles judge rejected the request.
Samantha Geimer, the victim at the centre of this statutory rape case has requested a US court to drop the charges against Polanski. Samantha Geimer, 45 said the continued publication of details “causes harm to me, my husband and children”.
Click Here to view photos of the victim.
photos: Fame
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