US sends extradition request to Poland for Roman Polanski

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**Ouze**

Roman Polanski, film director, may be extradited on child sex offences after US sends request to Poland
By Europe correspondent Barbara Miller

Poland has received a formal request from the United States to extradite film director Roman Polanski over a child sex conviction from the late 1970s.

The extradition request will be passed on to prosecutors handling the case, according to a spokesman for the prosecutors' office in Warsaw.

"The first [thing] prosecutors will do is question Polanski," Mateusz Martyniuk said.

The move comes months after US authorities attempted to have Polanski arrested for sex offences when he travelled to Warsaw for the opening of a Jewish museum in October.

Polish prosecutors questioned the 81-year-old maker of The Pianist and Chinatown but allowed him to walk free.

Oscar-winner Polanski was accused of raping then 13-year-old Samantha Geimer after a photo shoot in 1977 when he was 43.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, or statutory rape, avoiding a trial, but then fled the country fearing a hefty sentence.

Read: Roman Polanski's life as a filmmaker and fugitive
US officials have pressed for his extradition regularly to no avail.

Polanski, who became a French citizen in 1976 after moving there from Poland, was arrested in Switzerland on an international arrest warrant in 2009. He was released after being held for months.

His lawyers recently requested a new hearing to try to close the case on procedural grounds, but a Los Angeles judge refused to reopen the case last month.

A Polish court will examine the extradition request. A rejection would mean the case is closed. But if the court approves the request, it will be up to the justice ministry to give the final go-ahead.

In a memoir published in 2013, Ms Geimer described how she was made to drink champagne and was given a sleeping pill before being raped by Polanski in the house of actor Jack Nicholson.

Polanski's legal team argued that the conviction should be annulled on the grounds of misconduct, claiming the late judge who heard his case had improperly colluded with prosecutors.

source

**djones520**

Hope it goes through.

**Disciple of Fate**

Should really happen after almost 40 years of evading the consequences, embarrassing for those European countries that they left him walking around for so long.

**Ahtman**

Disciple of Fate wrote:
Should really happen after almost 40 years of evading the consequences, embarrassing for those European countries that they left him walking around for so long.

But he makes movies some people like, and isn't art worth letting a little drugging and raping of a minor slide? I mean sure he was found guilty and already had a trial before running, but really if you evade sentencing long enough with the help of other governments and sweet, sweet cash, can't one get a little consideration?

**Disciple of Fate**

Ahtman wrote:
Disciple of Fate wrote:
Should really happen after almost 40 years of evading the consequences, embarrassing for those European countries that they left him walking around for so long.

But he makes movies some people like, and isn't art worth letting a little drugging and raping of a minor slide? I mean sure he was found guilty and already had a trial before running, but really if you evade sentencing long enough with the help of other governments and sweet, sweet cash, can't one get a little consideration?

If art can keep you out of prison then I can think of a few 'artists' that should go to prison because of it

**Stonebeard**

Just cut the bastard nards off and put a bullet in him. Anyone who would hurt a child is the worst from of filth and I would very much prefer if individuals such as this man not be allowed to exist.

And, before I get poopoo'ed, I realize that the above might be considered an inappropriate response, but these sort of people just set me off.

**Dreadclaw69**

Ahtman wrote:
But he makes movies some people like, and isn't art worth letting a little drugging and raping of a minor slide? I mean sure he was found guilty and already had a trial before running, but really if you evade sentencing long enough with the help of other governments and sweet, sweet cash, can't one get a little consideration?

Absolutely. But in the form of additional charges, and aggravating circumstances for sentencing.

**Kilkrazy**

Disciple of Fate wrote:
Should really happen after almost 40 years of evading the consequences, embarrassing for those European countries that they left him walking around for so long.

God, it's almost like the USA not recognising European jurisdiction over US personnel who are alleged to commit crimes. But anyway, kettle calling the pot black aside, what good will it really do anyone to send Polanski back to the USA?

**djones520**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Disciple of Fate wrote:
Should really happen after almost 40 years of evading the consequences, embarrassing for those European countries that they left him walking around for so long.

God, it's almost like the USA not recognising European jurisdiction over US personnel who are alleged to commit crimes. But anyway, kettle calling the pot black aside, what good will it really do anyone to send Polanski back to the USA?

What, are you making a swipe at SOFA's? An agreement signed by both nations about how military personnel are supposed to be handled in the event of crimes committed?

**Ahtman**

Kilkrazy wrote:
what good will it really do anyone to send Polanski back to the USA?

What good does it do to say that all you have to do is run away long enough and your crimes will be forgiven?

Also, what convicted high profile rapist is the US hiding from Europe? If you want to invoke a bit of tu quoque you could at least provide analogues to the problem in question.

**Kilkrazy**

What good does it do to say that just for being American you can evade the result of your crimes automatically?

I'm not invoking tu quoque.

**Disciple of Fate**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Disciple of Fate wrote:
Should really happen after almost 40 years of evading the consequences, embarrassing for those European countries that they left him walking around for so long.

God, it's almost like the USA not recognising European jurisdiction over US personnel who are alleged to commit crimes. But anyway, kettle calling the pot black aside, what good will it really do anyone to send Polanski back to the USA?

Well, good thing I didnt say two wrongs make a right now is it

He himself admitted to his crime, what good will not sending him back do except for the continuation of the message that if youre famous or wealthy you wont end up in prison like those 'regular' poor people. As long as both countries ensure that justice prevails in the end or have treaties to ensure that the country in question will see to it, then I see no problem with sending Polanski back. If US personnel does something here in Europe and there is an lack of justice that will need to be reviewed per case, but here I am saying that two wrongs dont make a right.

**Ahtman**

Kilkrazy wrote:
What good does it do to say that just for being American you can evade the result of your crimes automatically?

I'm not invoking tu quoque.

You are evoking it again. By continually saying, essentially, "Americans have skipped crimes as well!" that is exactly what you are doing. You even say "pot calling kettle black". As DoF put it, two wrongs don't make a right. I'm still curious what high profile convicted rapists the US are hiding away from Europe to make such statements not seem like some odd bit of sour grapes.

**Dreadclaw69**

Kilkrazy wrote:
What good does it do to say that just for being American you can evade the result of your crimes automatically?

I'm not invoking tu quoque.

I was under the impression that under SOFA that the military personnel were subject to the UCMJ, and were prosecuted for any wrongdoings before a military tribunal. This is a wholly different set of circumstances from being being convicted of a crime and fleeing imprisonment.

**djones520**

Not to mention that a SOFA is something that both nations sign.

**Jihadin**

djones520 wrote:
Not to mention that a SOFA is something that both nations sign.

SOFA (Agreement

)
How is he covered in the SOFA Agreement? Wait. Do we even have a SOFA Agreement (

) with Poland?

**Relapse**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Disciple of Fate wrote:
Should really happen after almost 40 years of evading the consequences, embarrassing for those European countries that they left him walking around for so long.

God, it's almost like the USA not recognising European jurisdiction over US personnel who are alleged to commit crimes. But anyway, kettle calling the pot black aside, what good will it really do anyone to send Polanski back to the USA?

To show these bastards that they can't get away with this crap.

**djones520**

Jihadin wrote:
djones520 wrote:
Not to mention that a SOFA is something that both nations sign.

SOFA (Agreement )
How is he covered in the SOFA Agreement? Wait. Do we even have a SOFA Agreement ( ) with Poland?

The SOFA has nothing to do with Polanski. It has everything to do with Kilkrazy's charge that we just make our troops cut and run when they commit crimes. He's willfully ignoring the agreement signed between both nations.

**MrDwhitey**

I would be happy if this were granted by Poland.

**Jihadin**

Tracking now. SOFA can be revised or left as is. What's in the Agreement is in the Agreement. That Marine killing the Lady Boy in the Phillapines(sp) was turned over to the local LEO and the Fleet moved on. He might have to give an example of a US Service Member escaping prosecution. I've a few instances he might be thinking of but I like to see the example first

**Cheesecat**

He's a horrible person who makes great movies and has had some extremely gakky life experiences (mom died in Auschwitz, experienced certain events from the holocaust, his pregnant wife murdered along with some of her friends, etc) anyways he should go to jail for the sexual assault.

Interesting that one of the themes in Romans Polanski's "Chinatown" is if you have enough influence and power you can get away with horrible crimes seems Roman is living that life now.

**jreilly89**

Again? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it actually happen and for him to face justice, but it's a little after the fact.

**daedalus**

I was going to make a comment deliberately confusing he and Casimir Pulaski, but I thought it might be in poor taste.

**Ouze**

Guys.

I'm reading this, and In order for this to really become a thread worthy of the OT, at least one of you guys is going to need to defend Roman Polanski.

This is never going to turn into our usual 3 pages of screaming bitterly at each other followed by warnings and a lock unless and until at least one person says that 13 year old was in it for the money and was probably dressed provocatively, and that when you think about it, Roman Polanski is the real victim here. This civil discourse and common consensus is unseemly.

To reiterate, I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed. You can do better, Dakka.

**daedalus**

Sorry dude. Can't even do it in jest.

**Ouze**

(sighs with relief)

**daedalus**

Ouze wrote:
(sighs with relief)

Changed my mind. Sorry.

**Ouze**

Hah. Fair enough.

**Medium of Death**

She was a 13 year old model was she not?

She's obviously naturally precocious and probably took advantage of that troubled man.

Clearly she sought out Roman's pole-anski to further her own career.

**Torga_DW**

He made a movie, right? Presumably it was decent, right? This is a tough one.