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Roman Polanski 'held in Zurich' Roman Polanski detained in Zurich
(19 minutes later)
Film director Roman Polanski has been taken into custody on a 31-year-old US arrest warrant, organisers of the Zurich Film Festival say. Director Roman Polanski has been taken into custody on a 31-year-old US arrest warrant, Swiss police have confirmed.
The organisers say Polanski, 76, was detained by police on Saturday as he travelled to Switzerland from France to collect a lifetime achievement award. The film-maker, 76, was detained on Saturday as he travelled to Switzerland to collect a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival.
Police in Zurich could not immediately confirm the information. Mr Polanski admitted unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in the US in 1977, but fled to France before sentencing.
Mr Polanski admitted unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977, but fled to France before sentencing. In recent years, he has tried to have the rape case dismissed, but a US judge formally rejected his requests in May.
He was initially indicted on six felony counts and faced up to life in prison. Mr Polanski was initially indicted on six felony counts and faced up to life in prison.
In recent years, he has tried to have the rape case dismissed, claiming the original judge, who is now dead, arranged a plea bargain but later reneged. He claims the original judge, who is now dead, arranged a plea bargain but later reneged.
A US judge formally rejected Mr Polanski's request in May. CASE TIMELINE 1977 - Polanski admits unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer, 13, in Los Angeles1978 - flees to Britain after US arrest warrant is issued 1978 - immediately moves to France where he holds citizenship1978 - settles in France, where he is protected by France's limited extradition with US2008 - Polanski's lawyer demands case be dismissed and hearing moved out of LA court2009 - Polanski's request to have hearing outside LA is denied
Judge Peter Espinoza agreed there was misconduct by the judge in the original case, but said Mr Polanski must return to the US to apply for dismissal. Earlier this year, Judge Peter Espinoza agreed there was misconduct by the judge in the original case, but said Mr Polanski must return to the US to apply for dismissal.
Mr Polanski's lawyers said he would not return to the US because he would be immediately arrested as a fugitive.Mr Polanski's lawyers said he would not return to the US because he would be immediately arrested as a fugitive.
The Polish-born filmmaker has not set foot in the US for more than 30 years. He has even avoided shooting in the UK for fear of extradition. The Polish-born filmmaker has not set foot in the US for more than 30 years. He has even avoided making films in the UK for fear of extradition.
His Oscar for directing the 2002 The Pianist was collected by Harrison Ford. His Oscar for directing the 2002 The Pianist was collected by Harrison Ford, who had previously starred in his 1988 thriller, Frantic.
The organisers of the Zurich Film Festival said Polanski's detention had caused "shock and dismay," but that they would go ahead with a planned retrospective of the director's work on Sunday.The organisers of the Zurich Film Festival said Polanski's detention had caused "shock and dismay," but that they would go ahead with a planned retrospective of the director's work on Sunday.
Switzerland has an extradition treaty with the US.
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