Roman Polanski gets bail -- if it sticks, will he skip again? [POLL]

Bail in the amount of $4.5 million has been approved for director Roman Polanski, who's been held in Zurich, Switzerland, facing extradition  to Los Angeles to be sentenced for unlawful intercourse with a 13-year-old girl more than three decades ago.

But he's not out just yet -- the Swiss government has 10 days to appeal the decision.

Swiss Justice Ministry spokesman Folco Galli told the UK Daily Mail that Polanski is considered a "high flight risk."

Gee, ya think?

Seriously, what do you think? The Ministry's Office of Absolutely Accurate Online Statistics wants to know.

(The poll is a simple one -- share your thoughts in the comments.)

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Roman Polanski at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007. Credit: Valery Hache / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Don Wood]

Blatant payoff. Los Angeles needs to send them $5 million to keep him in jail.

[CDZ from the Ministry]

Actually, @Control Freaks, those were intended as two separate remarks. I was slow to OK your post (along with others') because, as I said, there's only one of me.

The rest was a tip to others who might comment -- a note I've had to post in more than one comment thread, because when people get passionate, they often use spicy language. I can't edit comments, so if there's profanity in them, they can't go live.

Sorry I didn't make it more clear that they were two separate thoughts. Back to work! / cdz

[The Guy]

The girl that Roman allegedly raped has already said that she forgives him and doesn't think he should be charged.

At that point, the case should be dropped. Stop calling him a "rapist" as if you have any stake the matter.

[Mikedel]

He can easily afford to loose that much. He is old, not all that many years to live, how much would it be worth to him to spend them free? As much as it takes. There is no doubt that he will run off to France and never leave again.

[Control Freaks]

Ok then Christie D'Zurilla, where is my original post? I went back and read all of them from the beginning, and still don't see my original post.

[captainkona]

I doubt he will run.
Running worked way back then. There's nowhere to hide in the information age.
He knows he can't elude.

His best bet is to face it, take the deal and spend the rest of his life on probation. He can drag this out for years and, let's face it, the LA attorney's office doesn't exactly have a good record of prosecuting Hollywood's own for crimes of any kind. Sex included.

The victim forgave him and that will weigh heavily.

He will either face the music or kill himself.
Either one is fine with me.

[CDZ from the Ministry]

@Control Freaks -- whoops, there it is. One of me, and me missed it.

[Boabdil]

$4.5 million to escape American justice is a relative bargain. How much will his legal fees be if he decides to return to LA and fight the charges?

[Martin Pineda]

He is a sicko !!! Must we condone his actions because it happened so long ago or because he was with Hollywood. Sex with a child is defined as RAPE ,would you let him go if it was your child he RAPED ? If you see no wrong here your are as twisted as he is !

[kathyzjim]

Shows you how petty the USG is.

[Biff]

Dave - I'm fairly certain a judge does not have to honor a deal, and can instead imposes the penalties the law allows. It's rare, but not unheard of.

The Guy - the victim has simply gotten so tired of being harassed about the issue that she just wants it to go away. Victims often come to forgive their abuser so that they can move on, but that doesn't mean society should forgive and forget. Society establishes laws to protect victims, who might otherwise fear to demand justice, and to protect other potential victims of the same abuser, as well as others.

And everyone who has a child or knows someone who does has some stake in the matter, because if a victim can be browbeaten into forgiving/dropping the charges, or if a criminal can just skip town until the anger passes, then we set a very dangerous precedent every time we allow that to happen.

[HereWeGoAgain]

If Rom doesn't have the money I'm sure R. Kelly's already wired the money to Switzerland. You know those rapist have to stick together.

[Scott]

"Does the prospect of her assailant enjoying the good life while she continually agonizes each and every day make her feel good? "

Considering shes openly said she wants all charges against him dropped, Im going to see she doesnt care.

[charles]

The notion that someone can forgive a rapist and that means the government should drop the case is disturbing. So if he raped a 5 year old and the 5 year old forgives him that makes everything OK? So if your rich enough to buy the forgiveness of the people you commit crimes against you get to keep committing crimes.

Of course he will run again. It's in his nature. He's been running for 30 years.

[Control Freaks]

Ok CDZ, I'll post it again and see if it makes it online.

Go home Roman. $4.5m seems to be a fair price to put this all behind you. Your victim forgave you and said she wants no more to do with this case. Now you're up against an over-zealous D.A. that just wants to have you under his hat when he runs for office.

Make sure you let the U.S. know that they're #1 with you when you cross that border back into France.

[Felyne]

Of course it's not just the original charges, it's now 30 years as a fugitive to add to the sentence.

From the quotes I've read from the victim, everytime his name appears in the papers her life becomes a media circus and she wants to be left in peace. I believe this is her reason, not that she honestly has forgiven him. She wants it to be over and he continues to prolong her suffering by being a fugitive.

Irregardless of whether the victim forgives him, he committed a crime and has to do the time for a number of reasons. There are a great number of murderers who have been forgiven by their victims families, applying that same logic they should be released.

Awesome:
"I don't know if it should be considered BAIL-bail since he didn't commit RAPE-rape.
Posted by: JohnScott | Nov 25, 2009 at 02:25 PM"

[chris c.]

Really???
Dude is way too old to be battling serious charges!!
If he has any brains... THEN HE WILL RUN!!!

[Control Freaks]

and once again, CDZ decided to censor my post. Imagine that.

[Robert G]

It doesn't matter if his victim forgives him. To let him off without jail time sends the message to the other "well-heeled" of Los Angeles that drugging and raping a 13-year-old child is something you can engage in as an extreme sport. Think of the "Running Man" movie.

She might want to put this thing behind her, but POLANSKI started it. and POLANSKI is responsible for any embarrassment or emotional distress she feels years later when he's caught and sentenced.

I invite anyone who disagrees to find, drug and rape a 13 year old. Use the Polanski Defense: "It won't matter in 30 years, your Honor, because by that time she'll want to put it behind her and forget about it! During that time, I'll leave the country and live comfortably in Europe!"

It's time for Polanski to pay the piper.

[Nobody]

Everything is about making money. Everybody got what they want.
What about millions other rapes done every day by “non millionaires” guys ?

[Jet Levine]

Can you imagine being the teenage daughters of a man who they have learned admitted that he drugged and anally raped a girl around their age...I wouldn't be impressed with either the legal system or the idea of "daddy" coming home. Rapists don't generally just rape once; has anyone investigated whether his daughters have been victimized in any way? Haven't we had enough of rich rapists getting differential treatment? This is nauseating. I hope they don't think the US is too busy with Thanksgiving to recognize a real turkey (the Swiss Court in this instance) when we see one. Keep this guy in JAIL!!!!! JL

[John]

Our only experience with him in this matter is that he ran. What argues against his running again? I have not seen any support for bail; that is, what is different this time? $4.5 million could not be much to this guy. Just a coward with money.

By the way, once he ran, the case became more than rape, for which the victim has forgiven him. His running challenges the court and justice system themselves, which are much more important than the findings in any one case.

[Ted Clayton]

@Thomasi 01:45pm;

... asking, "Where are you all getting your facts re the Swiss decision to appeal?"

see: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/International/oscar-winning-director-roman-polanski-granted-bail/story?id=9176709

quote: " Swiss Ministry of Justice spokesman Folco Galli told ABC News that the decision by the Swiss court is under review.

"The Ministry of Justice is examining the decision rendered by the court. We will decide quickly if we accept this decision or if we decide to lodge an appeal," said Galli. "If we accept the decision, Polanski will be released from jail after posting bail and after his house arrest has been organized. This won't be done immediately."
" :end quote

I earlier saw a similar statement elsewhere.

This follows the pattern we have seen with the Swiss (in this case) - one level issues some decision, then a higher level (almost 'automatically') reviews it, or the decision is appealed upstairs.

The decision may or may not be changed ... and there could be a conflict in current reports ... but it is definitely being published that a higher review will occur.

[elwood p dowd]

so what is the lowest price the swiss will accept for their integrity?

[ladyofargonne]

He will try to seek asylum in France and they won't take him due to the controversy.