Roman Polanski arrested in Zurich

Roman Polanski arrested in Zurich based on a 31-year-old arrest charge.

On his way to the Zurich Film Festival, director Roman Polanski has been arrested by Swiss police, who acted on a request from American authorities.

After yielding to pressure from the IRS in the banking affair and being ridiculed by Libyan dictator Qaddafi for all the world to see, Switzerland's authorities continue to capitulate in the face of directives from abroad, perhaps forgetting that Swiss soil is not subject to American law.

Polanski was arrested in 1977 and charged with having sex with a 13-year-old girl. After spending a brief time in prison for psychiatric evaluation, the Polish-French director fled to Europe and has not returned to the United States since.

His victim, Samantha Geimer, stated in a 2003 interview «I wish he would return to America so the whole ordeal can be put to rest for both of us (..) I'm sure if he could go back, he wouldn't do it again. He made a terrible mistake but he's paid for it.»

Polanksi was scheduled to receive a lifetime achievement award today at the Zurich Film Festival. A statement released this morning announces the award ceremony will be postponed to a later date, and the event will be turned into a evening of solidarity in support of the director.