Polanski Watch – Further Updates

Roman Polanski may at last be facing his Chinatown moment as the US authorities move ever close to extraditing him to face sentencing in connection with his 1978 conviction for unlawful sex with a minor.

Matters were complicated for the Director on Tuesday when Switzerland’s highest court formally rejected Polanski’s appeal to be released on bail. Judging that he posed a high flight risk, prosecutors ruled that The Ghost director must remain in Swiss custody “during the entire extradition proceedings.” Explaining their decision to back an earlier government ruling that Polanski would be highly likely to flout any bail conditions, Swiss authorities told the press that “The court considered the risk that Roman Polanski might flee if released from custody as high.”

Although Polanski must now await the result of a US application to have him extradited, his lawyer, Herve Temime told the media that a further appeal would be made to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, the highest such court in the land.

“We will seek to demonstrate that there is no risk in ordering Roman Polanski’s release,” Mr Temime said, and would “provide even stronger and more suitable guarantees” that he wouldn’t leave the country.

Following the ruling US authorities formally moved to have the Director returned to Los Angeles. Although refused bail from Swiss detention, Polanski will retain the legal right to appeal against extradition should the application be granted. In an official statement, Swiss authorities confirmed that “The US Embassy in Bern submitted the formal extradition request… within the deadline of 40 days stipulated under the bilateral extradition treaty.”

Polanski, whose credits include Rosemary’s Baby and Frantic, has been in Swiss detention since September 26th. His arrest has caused much controversy, particularly in Hollywood where filmmakers from Martin Scorsese to “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” director Terry Gilliam, have signed a petition demanding his release.

Swiss authorities have come under close scrutiny since the revelation that they tipped off US authorities about Polanski’s trip to Zurich. The Director was attending the Zurich Film Festival to receive a lifetime achievement award. Swiss officials have defended their action, saying they were obliged to take Polanski into custody after learning that the decades-old warrant was still valid.

The 76 year old Director, who hasn’t returned to the US since he fled in 1978, faces a potential prison sentence should his appeal against extradition fail.

Be sure to check back with FilmShaft for further developments in the Polanski Story.

Tags: arrested, Roman Polanski, update