Gotcha!
Boy, that must have been a shock for film director - Roman Polanski - when he innocently arrived at the airport to attend a festival in Switzerland (to accept an award for his craft) and found himself apprehended, hand-cuffed, and hauled off to the local pokey.
Talk about realism, Roman!
Of course, Polanski has been on the run for a few-dozen-years now, after fleeing the American Justice system to avoid prosecution for allegedly raping a thirteen-year-old actress.
Young pussy was hard to resist for old lover boy, I guess.
Last year it appeared there was an opportunity to resolve the legal snafu.
But, the specifics were difficult to wrangle, so Polanski remained at bay and out of harm's way (temporarily).
Now that an arrest has been made - albeit on foreign shores outside of U.S. jurisdiction - a second battle has ensued.
Extradition proceedings!
Will the Swiss kow-tow to California's judicial system and comply with their request for transfer to their jurisdiction?
Or, humbly bow their heads in the wake of the cries of shame from neighbors who opine that their unprecedented intervention amounted to a baldl-faced shameful act?
Some analysts on the sidelines argue that it may have behooved Polanski to negotiate his own deal when the opportunity arose.
After all, now the matter has turned into an International incident, with all hawk-eyes inclined to scrutinize the legal system in both countries on opposite sides of the big pond.
Bottom line?
Polanski will get his day in court!
One legal eagle speculated that the case may be dismissed and commuted to time served.
Poland and France have launched a joint appeal for the Swiss to release the embattled film director.
Part of the reason Polanski eluded his pursuers for so many years was due to the fact France has no extradition treaty with the United States.
Though the articulate auteur - who received his first Academy Award nomination for "Knife in the Water" in 1964 - travelled throughout Europe extensively in recent years , he avoided arrest mainly due to the fact policies in respect to apprehending foreign fugitives have been quite lax.
A recent award that was bestowed on Polanski proved to be his undoing, however.
The celebrated event in Switzerland was advertised on the Internet - and consequently - tickets were sold guarnteeing an appearance by the the director of mega-hits such as "Rosemary's Baby".
Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpt intends to remain in Zurich until the extradition proceedings are finalized as a matter of legal form.
U.S. authorities have sixty days to file a request in writing for Polanski's transfer to these shores.
Ironically, the victim (Samantha Geimer) has since settled out-of-court with Polanski.
Curiously, she has since joined in with friends and business associates, rallying for his exoneration.
Actions speak louder than words, but $$$ scream out for celebrity justice!
