If they'd only known, Swiss authorities would have arrested Polanski long ago, official says

Roman Polanski would have been arrested by Swiss authorities long ago if they knew he regularly visited the country, a top Swiss justice official said.

Polanski -- who fled the U.S. three decades ago to avoid sentencing for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old -- was arrested last month as he got off a plane to attend the Zurich film festival.

His supporters have questioned the timing of the arrest, noting Polanski has been to Switzerland many times and even has a chalet at a Swiss resort.

But Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf insisted authorities never knew Polanski traveled to Switzerland -- until L.A. prosecutors informed them Polanski planned to attend the festival.

"This time, we knew that he would be coming. After all, the organizers of the Zurich Film Festival had actively made it known," Widmer-Schlumpf told the Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung.

"Switzerland is a constitutional state, and Mr. Polanski should always have counted on being disturbed on his earlier stays as well," Widmer-Schlumpf said.  "The arrest of Mr. Polanski has been sought worldwide by Interpol since 2005. If he comes to Switzerland, we are duty bound to fulfill the arrest as a treaty partner of the United States."

Polanski is facing what could be a long extradition battle. His lawyers say he will fight efforts to bring him back to Los Angeles.

A former Swiss justice minster criticized the way he was arrested.

Christoph Blocher told the Associated Press this weekend that Polanski should have been warned he would be arrested if he came to Zurich.

"You don't invite someone when you know he's going to be arrested," said Blocher. "You simply don't do that."

-- Shelby Grad

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Comments

[J B]

He has a freaking house in Gstaad - how could they not have known?

Or maybe the Swiss aren't as organized and efficient as we think.

[Kevin]

"You don't invite someone when you know he's going to be arrested," said Blocher. "You simply don't do that."

So, when someone who has been avoiding arrest for 30 years is going to be going somewhere he can be arrested at, we should warn them?

He is a sorry excuse for a man and deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison for drugging and raping a 13 year old girl.

[eric]

Its really sad when people defend a pedo just because of his "talents". This is also the prime reason victims dont report the harm they recieve. Fact is he broke the law and should pay for it!

[eric]

Its really sad when people defend a pedo just because of his "talents". This is also the prime reason victims dont report the harm they recieve. Fact is he broke the law and should pay for it!

[Tip And Ring]

"You don't invite someone when you know he's going to be arrested," said Blocher. "You simply don't do that."

Apparently Blocher has never heard of a sting.

[mary]

- A former Swiss justice minster criticized the way he was arrested.
Christoph Blocher told the Associated Press this weekend that Polanski should have been warned he would be arrested if he came to Zurich.
"You don't invite someone when you know he's going to be arrested," said Blocher. "You simply don't do that." -
Well, maybe that's just one reason why you are the FORMER Justice Minister and no longer employed as such Mr. Blocher (cue the horses neighing in background "Young Frankenstein").

[Piotr Orloff]

As my dad would say, it sounds like Switzerland is having "administrative problems." This is the dumbest, most ridiculous excuse I have ever heard from one nation. Too stupid to be believable!

[Abell]

I don't believe a word of this. Prior to your move to Switzerland and getting a residence permit (which you must have to do ANYTHING - even get a cell phone), you are required to provide a letter from the police department in your US locality, stating that you have no criminal record. I lived there from 2005-2007 and both my husband and I were required to do this. So, how is it that you can buy a chalet there and no one finds out that you raped a thirteen year-old girl? Right.

[Mir]

Christoph Blocher told the Associated Press this weekend that Polanski should have been warned he would be arrested if he came to Zurich. "You don't invite someone when you know he's going to be arrested," said Blocher. "You simply don't do that."

You simply don't rape anyone - maybe Polanski should have told the 13 year old she was going to be anally raped twice before he did it. "You simply don't do that."

I will boycott everyone that supports Polanski.

[Boils]

Christoph Blocher was the former Swiss justice minister? Now we know why Switzerland is country filled with international scum.

[Sue]

If he had been forewarned of arrest, I imagine he would have RSVP'd the event!

[JayCeezy]

Switzerland must have been very frustrated for all those years, trying to find Marc Rich's chalet.

[Jaunenito]

When you commit a crime you become a number not a name. Other victims? You don't turn into a pedophile at age 43; and most certainly don't stop at age 43!! I wonder who else has been paid off? Politics? Talent? What about the victims? I can't decide what makes me wanna puke more: what he did or the soulless perverts who support him. Time? There are war criminals being sought from WWII. Justice has no limitation with murder & pedophilia. We're far from perfect, but you gotta love America.

[Laura Aikens Goeller]

When I read of Polanski's arrest I too said, oh why are we bringing this back up.

But then I used my brain.

He raped a 13 year old girl, a child. From pictures she did NOT look any older than 13. He RAPED a child, end of story.

When it looked like things were not going to go the way Polanski wanted in court he fled. This makes him a fugitive.

For some of Hollywood to try to defend him, I ask that these people also use their brains. If this had been your 13 year old daughter or sister, would you be supporting this man's release?

Would you support a fugitive rapist if his name were not Polanski? Talent does not negate the crime that was committed. For the Hollywood people to turn Polanski into a victim, all I have to say is shame on you. Polanski is a criminal rapist, who is a fugitive from justice; end of story.

[marshall kennedy]

If it was Blochers daughter would he have the same point of view I wonder ?

[Liz]

You wrote that Christoph Blocher told the Associated Press this weekend that Polanski should have been warned he would be arrested if he came to Zurich.

"You don't invite someone when you know he's going to be arrested," said Blocher. "You simply don't do that."

Get real - he was convicted 30 years ago of the crime. It should not matter that he is a famous director. He needs to pay for his crime - no matter how long ago it was. The only reason he didn't pay for his crimes at that time is that he had the funds to leave the country. It will be a cold day in h... before I ever support his lifestyle by seeing one of his films.

[Bill T]

Polanski probably used his French passport and residence when he bought the Gstaad home. Presumably he has a clean record there.

And, stupid as it sounds, if L.A. did not keep an open arrest warrant on file at Interpol, the Swiss would have no way of knowing he was still wanted in the U.S. There might be some willful ignorance going on in Switzerland, but the L.A. Prosecutors don't have clean hands either.

The Swiss probably don't track foreigners inside their borders, unlike a certain Patriot-enActed nation I could name. So they can claim official ignorance of his whereabouts, even when he's in the news on a ski vacation.

[tr]

As I understand the former Swiss Justice Minister, he believes governments have an affirmative duty to warn fugitives from justice that they will be arrested if they show up in public?

[Rosee]

Mr. Polanski was WELL AWARE of where he could go and where he couldn't...he's a pro at avoiding arrest...30+ years tells us that.

The comment by the former Swiss offical is ignorant and for all we know he may well be a friend of his.

I just hope he doesn't get bail or allowed to be on house arrest until he is extradicted!

[James Johnston]

I've driven into Switzerland (from France), taken the train into Switzerland (from Germany), and flown into Switzerland (from the Netherlands) It seems to me that there was always some sort of passport control - no big deal - but I thought the point was to give whomever was running the checkpoint the chance to run your name through the outstanding warrant list. If there has been an Interpol warrant since 2005 why hasn't Mr P been nabbed before this time? Traveling within the EU he wouldn't need to go through passport control - but Switzerland isn't in the EU

[Dave]

I'm missing the reason for the outrage. It is irrelevant whether the Swiss knew he was there previously or whether they botched or forewent a chance to arrest Polanski. So what if a government misses a chance to arrest a wanted person? This obviously creates no substantive right to be free from arrest pursuant to the warrant in the future. Our police miss opportunities to make warrant arrests all the time. That doesn't entitle the criminal to essentially have the warrant dropped. Why would the legal rule be any different for famous movie stars? The Times really needs to hire an attorney to write or consult on articles on legal matters. You regularly publish articles on legal topics, and you almost always egregiously misstate the applicable law to the point that as an attorney I find it painful to read your articles.

[Tom Storm]

Roman Polanski raped a child. Period. Plied her with champagne, quaaludes and shallow promises. She protested. Still he penetrated her. His action was wrong - in any circumstance. Celebrity outrage against his arrest is disgusting. One rule for them another for us? We are biologically, morally, ethically and legally obliged to protect all children - so where do Mr. Polanski's defenders draw their moral authority from? Oh. Because he made some good movies? Oh., his family were holocaust victims. Oh, his wife was murdered by a psychopath...so those events excuse HIS bestial behaviour?
Go to jail Mr. Polanski - you did the crime now do your time.

TS

[Bill]

Where is Inspector Clouseau when we need him?

[ColoradoRob]

Maybe they should've done what they do in cities here that have Pro Football and Baseball.Notified him he won Tickets to whatever is a Big Sporting in Switzerland and when he showed to get them slapped the cuffs on him. Was he and his lawyers that cavalier and arrogant they never even bothered to check to see if there still were any active warrants still out on him?

[Harry Parker]

Roman Polanski, this guy is a creep. He should go to jail for what he did to that young girl.Artist or not no one is above the law. He raped a 13 year old girl, sodmized her, knocked her out with booze and drugs, fled the US as a fugitive. The Hollywood comunity thinks Polanski is being percicuted? You people are a sick lot. That sickness is reflected by the lousey movies you make.