Roman Polanski
Famous film director Roman Polanski was arrested in Switzerland on U.S. warrant a 31-year-old. It was announced Zurich Film Festival organizers said in a statement on Sunday (27/9).
Polanski’s arrest on Saturday night made in connection with an arrest warrant issued by the U.S. government in 1978 because he was having sex with minors.
Director of the film was initially scheduled to receive awards for a lifetime’s work on the Film Festival, Sunday night.
“Roman Polanski, one of the greatest film directors of our time, should receive the prize for lifetime achievement at the Zurich Film Festival,” including the contents of this statement reported by Reuters. “However, he was arrested by police when he entered the Zurich Airport. Detention related to the demand by the U.S. government based on an arrest warrant for him issued in 1978,” he said.
“The festival director has received this news with great shock,” said the festival’s organizers. He added that respect for Polanski will still be given so that people attending the festival can convey their appreciation and solidarity for the film makers.
He was arrested in the late 1970s. He was charged with giving drugs and alcohol to girls aged 13 years and have sex in violation of the law with underage children are at a shooting event at Jack Nicholson, Hollywood.
Polanski, who insisted that the girl had sexual experience, and has approved such action, spent 42 days in jail while undergoing psychiatric examination. However, he escaped to France before it was condemned. His U.S. visa had been withdrawn since.
Paris-born Polish men had never set foot again in the U.S. since 30 years ago. He did not even dare to make films in England for fear of being extradited. Switzerland also has an extradition treaty with the United States.
Pianist film directed by Polanski in 2002 managed to steal an Oscar. The film, starring Adrien Brody.