L.A. prosecutors planned Polanski arrest after learning he would be accepting award in Zurich [Updated]

Director Roman Polanski is in Swiss custody awaiting extradition to Los Angeles after being arrested in Zurich in connection with his 1977 Los Angeles rape case.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office learned last week that Polanski had plans to travel to Zurich this weekend, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors sent a provisional arrest warrant to the U.S. Justice Department, which presented it to  Swiss authorities. On at least two previous occasions, the district attorney’s office has received reports that Polanski had travel arrangements to countries with extradition treaties with the U.S. and prepared paperwork for his arrest, Gibbons said.

“But in the end, he apparently found out about it and didn’t go,” she said.

Asked if prosecutors would ask that Polanski be sentenced to time behind bars if he was returned to the U.S., she said, “We’ve always maintained this is a matter between Polanski and the court. … We initially recommended prison time for him, but I can’t see into the future.”

An attorney for Polanski, Chad Hummel, declined to comment. “Right now, we’re not in a position to say anything,” he said.

Polanski, now 76 and a married father of two, asked the court to throw out the entire case in December based on new allegations of prosectorial and judicial misconduct detailed in an HBO documentary last year. The L.A. district attorney’s office argued that he could not make such a request while a fugitive, and an L.A. judge earlier this year agreed. A 1997 attempt at settling the case also failed.

Polanski was arrested 31 years ago at a Beverly Hills hotel after a 13-year-old girl accused him of sexually assaulting her during a photo shoot at actor Jack Nicholson's house.

A 1978 arrest warrant, issued after he failed to appear at his sentencing on the statutory-rape conviction, is still in effect, and he would be taken into custody upon arrival on U.S. soil. The director of "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" has not returned to the U.S. since then but continues to work as a director, winning an Oscar for "The Pianist."

The Swiss Justice Ministry said Polanski was taken into custody after he flew in to receive an award at the Zurich Film Festival.

[Updated at 9:20 a.m.: Polanski’s stay in Switzerland could be brief if he opts to return to Los Angeles.

“If he agrees with an extradition, he could be sent to the U.S. in the next days,” said Guido Ballmer, a spokesman for the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police.

But if Polanski declines to come back without a fight -- perhaps a more likely scenario given his three decades as a fugitive -- the court process could be quite lengthy, Ballmer told The Times. The appeals process has several layers and could last months, if not longer.]

The ministry issued the following statement:

"Yesterday evening Roman Polanski was arrested at his arrival and was put in provisional detention in view to extradition based on an US arrest warrant. The US authorities are accusing Roman Polanski of sexual acts with minors, specifically in a case of 1977 with a 13 year old girl in Los Angeles. Since the end of 2005 the US authorities are searching worldwide for Roman Polanski.

"An US arrest warrant against Roman Polanski exists since 1978. Whether Roman Polanski will be effectively extradited to the USA or not, can be established only, after the extradition process judicially has been finalised. It is possible to appeal at the federal penal court of justice against an arrest warrant in view to extradition as well as against an extradition decision. Their decisions can be taken further to the federal court of justice. In respect to this pending process it is not possible to give any further information."

-- Harriet Ryan

Photo: 2005 file image, Gerard Julien / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Ca Commentor]

Once again, the DA wastes time, money and effort. Good think I don't live in LA County (I did for many years) and get called up for jury duty. I wouldn't give the district attorney a guilty verdict for a serious crime with eyewitnesses and videos. These guys think they are all hot stuff and it's time someone brought them back to reality. So, it's best that I don't live there and don't get called!

[Lary Sorenson]

GOOD FOR THE SWISS

Not only are they not letting these scum bags who dont pay taxes with hiding money in their banks but they'll be damned if they'll let a rapist roam free across their country side.

[City Girl In Texas]

Roman Polanski raped a 13 year old girl, pleaded guilty, and then fled the country. The L.A. TImes is asking don't prosecutors have better things to do than go after a 32 year old crime. Are you serious L.A. Times? Is it because he is in the film industry? Or because you are daft?

How long after someone becomes a fugitive do we excuse their crime? Or is it because it was "only" rape that a prosecutor's perseverance is misguided? You really must be kidding.

The victim has said she was 13, given alcohol and drugs, and said no repeatedly. What part of this does the L.A. Times think is excusable - regardless of how much time has passed or what the perpetrator has done since committing an act like this on an innocent. Should this guy who kidnapped the 11 year old in South Lake Tahoe 18 years ago also be excused because a great deal of time has gone by? What is wrong with you people?

[mimi]

raped 13 years old and run away from justice for decades
and stupidly appeared to get hornored ??
he should be hung in public !! lock him up until he dies !

[Edward Nygma]

Roman Polanski should have never been arrested. This entire case should have been dropped decades ago. It's sad when personal interests of justice officials trumps doing what's right. We should have known that they weren't going to be satisfied until they convicted him of something. U.S. Officials did the exact same thing to OJ Simpson by finding him guilty of "breaking & entering and burglary" and convicting him. I'm tired of special interests getting in the way of legitimate cases that deserve convictions of which neither Mr. Polanski or Mr. Simpson were justified arrests.

[Mike D]

OK... bringhim back.. give him 30 days Plus 10... get Rid of it Already ! You to Polanski... Get Rid of it.. by doing what's right.

[Clark]

I note the Polish government is defending Polanski.

That is odd, because they just passed a very tough law saying if you have sex with a child under 15, you will be chemically castrated (after prison).

I think they should make up their minds one way or another, don't you?

[Daniel]

Well done, the first really good message from Switzerland since months. No sorry for child abusers.

[Mike]

Whatever tragedy happened in his life prior to his rape of that girl is irrelevant. He did it. He was found guilty. And because he was rich, he fled the possible sentence and has lived 30 years in luxery, while thumbing his nose at justice. Damn straight he is a priority Pat Goldstein. What is that the way it works? If you can stay out of custody for 30 years, you get to cry out olly olly oxen free? What the hell sort of message is that for a justice system. Guess you only go to jail if you are a poor criminal.

And for those crying about the poor swiss neutrality. They aren't neutral... they never have been they are simply driven by self interest. Either, please don't hurt us... or we want to make a lot interest off drug lords, criminals, and tax cheats. How they could be "neutral" during world war II while nazi's were gassing jews, and trying to control europe? Time for the swiss farce to end.

[John Thompson]

1) The 13 year old girl admits to consensual sex with Polanski.
2) Western Religions are the ones that say 13 is too young for sex. You remember the heads of the churches...... they are the ones that molest alter boys. Most countries in the word allow marriage at 12 & 13 years old or even younger. Daughters are sold to help family survival.
3) We may see a 13 year girl too young for sex.......but 13 year old girls are looking for some excitement never the less.
3) The judge went back on his plea bargain with Polanski.
4) Legally Polanski was in the wrong. But the L.A. Prosecutor is afraid to go after gangs in L.A. and goes after easier cases that are less dangerous. Though it does not seem he is after justice......... I think it is more likely he will make more powerful enemies in Hollywood with this witch hunt. This may well be the end of his career.
5) Leave Polanski alone........the Nazis killed his mother, Charlie Manson slaughtered his wife & unborn child. If the USA can release 9/11 terrorists and send them home to kill Americans again we should be able to let a 76 year old man remain free after he did something stupid while drunk.

FREE POLANSKI !

[John Thompson]

1) The 13 year old girl admits to consensual sex with Polanski.
2) Western Religions are the ones that say 13 is too young for sex. You remember the heads of the churches...... they are the ones that molest alter boys. Most countries in the word allow marriage at 12 & 13 years old or even younger. Daughters are sold to help family survival.
3) We may see a 13 year girl too young for sex.......but 13 year old girls are looking for some excitement never the less.
3) The judge went back on his plea bargain with Polanski.
4) Legally Polanski was in the wrong. But the L.A. Prosecutor is afraid to go after gangs in L.A. and goes after easier cases that are less dangerous. Though it does not seem he is after justice......... I think it is more likely he will make more powerful enemies in Hollywood with this witch hunt. This may well be the end of his career.
5) Leave Polanski alone........the Nazis killed his mother, Charlie Manson slaughtered his wife & unborn child. If the USA can release 9/11 terrorists and send them home to kill Americans again we should be able to let a 76 year old man remain free after he did something stupid while drunk.

FREE POLANSKI !

[Fed Up]

That's right people, two sets of justice systems: one for the so-called "Hollywood Elite", and one for the rest of us. And France wants a Presidential clemency for a child molester. While we're at it, let's throw out Megan's Law.

[am]

it is amazing that people sympathize with the rich and famous. would you feel the same way if an ordinary forty-three year old man raped a 13 year old? just because he has established a career for himself does not mean that he should be set free. people often forget about the victim here. rape is a very traumatic event, and for the most part, uneducated chovanistic males cannot see that, nor can they understand what it is like to be a victim and re-live the event through constant questionning and blame, referred to as secondary victimization that itself, can also have a detrimental impact on one's mental health. this was a child. a 13 year old child, who was violated in the worst way. even if the victim was 30 year old adult, would that make it alright? absolutely not. you people make me sick and it is sad that rape victims often get the blame attributed to them. in any other crime, the victim is not doubted, further degraded, and treated like the crime was their fault. take a second and jsut think about whether you would want someone who raped you or your child to be worshiped and held in such high praise.

[Dwight]

California's penal system in overloaded and broke.

The DA's vindictive arrest, going outside of the US, to bring a productive world citizen to our broke ass country is unbelievable!

CA residents will have to shell out another $60,000 a year to keep Polanski in prison; this from a state that has had to lay off state workers, teachers and law enforcement because the state is so deep in the red.

Mr. Polanski is not a threat to a single resident in the state of CA or any person in this country.

Another example of a power-hungry DA using the peoples money for his own self promotion.

[lawstud2010]

Since when is it okay to rape 13-year-old girls? Why are people still giving awards to perverts and pedophiles? They better lock him up.

[Ray]

Wow, the reasons some give for leniency or just a complete pass on rape are outrageous.
Sorry, at no time is it okay for a 40 something year old man to have sex with a girl. I don't care if he is a good director, his wife was murdered or the girl allowed it. He was an adult, he should have said no.

Damn, some people have charmed lives, he could have had any woman yet he drugs and rapes a 13 year old and I can't believe anyone would give this creep a pass.

[Pablo Pazmino, MD]

Alright!!!

They finally got him....i have been following this story since i was a baby....I am 34 years yold now...and i have beeen keeping up with the polanski story since age 4. I couldn't beleive what happened when the story broke...but I have been following this story diligently and now justice will finally be served. First as a child i read the LA times and now with the internet I have been follwoing his where abouts.

Thanks JR, THL and RV for all of your comments and support

PP

[richard]

just when OBAMA is in power
after 31 years
exactly in Rosh Hashana , prior to Yom Kippur
a JEW that was in concentration camps and that had behaved correctly for more than 30 years is requested by USA law system for something that should have past all statue of limitations in the world.....
The legal system of the USA is the same as in the Arab countries....
maybe they should stone Polanski when he returns to the USA...
UNBELIEVABLE

[Francis K]

"France makes me sick. This sick country protect criminals and Nazis."

And would you believe, they also starve puppies in cages for public amusement and eat live babies on Bastille Day, those monsters!

[Sharon C.]

This is a witch hunt, plain and simple.

[JL]

Todd Lanman....seriously? You're condoning the willful rape of a 13 year old? This wasn't a young woman, this was a girl. Someone's underage daughter. A minor. A CHILD.

I don't care where he went and hid, I don't care if him and Bin Laden are hanging around waiting to die in some cave in China, he deserves to get the very worst of what the US has to offer for his crimes. NOT acting on this and letting it go is basically saying "it's cool to commit the most heinous crimes in the US so longas you have enough money to get across a border...it's fine...do what you want. Law and order have no place here."

F-that. Get the bastard back here and and let the guys in prison missing their kids kill him.

[greg misakyan]

I don't care who he is, this bustard belongs in jail.