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Outcry over Polanski's detention Outcry over Polanski's detention
(39 minutes later)
Politicians and Hollywood heavyweights have rallied behind director Roman Polanski following his arrest.Politicians and Hollywood heavyweights have rallied behind director Roman Polanski following his arrest.
French culture minister Frederic Mitterand said he was "dumbfounded" by the detention of the film-maker - a French citizen - in Switzerland. French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner called the detention of the film-maker - a French citizen - in Switzerland a "bit sinister".
Mr Mitterand added that President Nicolas Sarkozy was following the case "with great attention". According to trade paper Screen Daily, Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is also backing the director.
A lawyer acting for Mr Polanski said he will challenge his arrest and any attempts to extradite him to the US.A lawyer acting for Mr Polanski said he will challenge his arrest and any attempts to extradite him to the US.
Mr Polanski, 76, is currently in custody in a Zurich prison.
The French-born Polish director was detained on Saturday as he arrived in Zurich to receive a lifetime achievement award.
Frederic Mitterand said "a scary America" has just "shown its face"
"We're calling on every film-maker we can to help fix this terrible situation," Weinstein said.
US prosecutors want Mr Polanski to return to be sentenced for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.US prosecutors want Mr Polanski to return to be sentenced for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
He pleaded guilty at the time as part of a plea bargain but then fled abroad.He pleaded guilty at the time as part of a plea bargain but then fled abroad.
In recent years, Mr Polanski, 76, asked a US appeals court in California to overturn a judges' refusal to throw out his case. He claimed misconduct by the judge, now deceased, who had arranged a plea bargain and then reneged on it. A petition has been signed by film-makers and actors including Monica Bellucci and Fanny Ardant expressing dismay at Mr Polanski's arrest.
The French-born Polish director was detained on Saturday as he arrived in Zurich to receive a lifetime achievement award. Culture minister Frederic Mitterand said President Sarkozy was following the case "with great attention".
Mr Mitterand said the French president "shares the hope... of a quick resolution to the situation".
Mitterand said "a scary America" has just "shown its face"
The culture minister said it "doesn't make any sense" for the director to be "trapped" and "thrown to the lions, because of ancient history".
"He has always said how much he loves this country [France], and he is a wonderful man," he said.
"He has had a difficult life but he has been able to have a family life in France with a wife who loves him and children he has brought up with great care and attention."
In its Monday edition the French daily Le Figaro quotes Mr Polanski's Paris-based lawyer as saying: "We will be demanding that he be freed. Then we will fight the extradition."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Mr Polanski's agent, Jeff Berg, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the arrest came "kind of as a shock". Mr Mitterand also told France-Inter radio that he and his Polish counterpart Radek Sikorski have written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and said there could be a decision as early as Monday if a Swiss court accepts bail.
"It is surprising because Roman for the last 12, 15 years has lived in Switzerland, he has a home, he travels there, he works there. And British novelist Robert Harris described the arrest as "disgusting treatment".
"His presence there is well-known as it is through much of Europe," said Mr Berg. Mr Polanski is directing a film adaptation of his book The Ghost. Harris said the production team were "reeling from the news".
'No choice' Oscar-winning director Andrzej Wajda was among members of the Polish Filmmakers Association calling on their website for Switzerland to immediately release Mr Polanski and for the US to review his case.
In its Monday edition the French daily Le Figaro quotes Mr Polanski's Paris-based lawyer as saying: "We will be demanding that he be freed. Then we will fight the extradition."
CASE TIMELINE 1977 - Mr 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 - Mr Polanski's lawyer demands case be dismissed and hearing moved out of LA court2009 - Mr Polanski's request to have hearing outside LA is denied Profile: Roman Polanski Roman Polanski: Your comments
Mr Polanski's agent, Jeff Berg, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the arrest was "surprising because Roman for the last 12, 15 years has lived in Switzerland, he has a home, he travels there, he works there".
Justice spokesman Guido Balmer said the difference with this particular trip was that authorities knew exactly when and where Mr Polanski would arrive. Switzerland does not perform passport checks on arrivals from 24 other European countries.
The Swiss Directors Association also criticised the arrest, describing it as "not only a grotesque farce of justice, but also an immense cultural scandal".
Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said that because of agreements with the US, "when Mr Polanski arrived we had no choice from a legal point of view but to arrest him".
The Swiss media have rounded on the authorities.
"Switzerland let a guest walk into a nasty trap. We should be ashamed," said tabloid newspaper, Blick.
Some people protested at Polanski's arrest at a film festival in Zurich
Daily paper Le Temps said Switzerland had "shocked film buffs and friends of the arts with its kindly and efficient co-operation with US justice. It has angered Poland and France".
The Swiss Justice Ministry have not ruled out the possibility that the film-maker could be released on bail under very strict conditions that he does not flee Switzerland.
American authorities have up to 60 days to make a formal extradition request but Mr Polanski could then appeal to the Swiss courts.
In recent years, the director has asked a US appeals court in California to overturn a judges' refusal to throw out his case. He claimed misconduct by the judge, now deceased, who had arranged a plea bargain and then reneged on it.
A judge dismissed his bid to throw out the case earlier this year because he did not appear in person in court but said there was "substantial misconduct" in the handling of the original case.
Planned arrest
The director is being held under a 2005 international alert issued by the US.The director is being held under a 2005 international alert issued by the US.
It has been reported by a Polish news agency that both Poland and France will make a joint appeal to Switzerland the US for his release.
Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, confirmed that moves to detain the director were set in motion last week.Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, confirmed that moves to detain the director were set in motion last week.
"It wasn't a big secret that he was going to be in Zurich. They had announced it on the internet," Ms Gibbons said."It wasn't a big secret that he was going to be in Zurich. They had announced it on the internet," Ms Gibbons said.
CASE TIMELINE 1977 - Mr 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 - Mr Polanski's lawyer demands case be dismissed and hearing moved out of LA court2009 - Mr Polanski's request to have hearing outside LA is denied Profile: Roman Polanski Roman Polanski: Your comments
There had been two previous attempts to arrest Mr Polanski when he planned visits to countries that have extradition agreements with the US, but each time he apparently learned of the plans and did not travel, Ms Gibbons said.There had been two previous attempts to arrest Mr Polanski when he planned visits to countries that have extradition agreements with the US, but each time he apparently learned of the plans and did not travel, Ms Gibbons said.
She told the AFP news agency that it could be "two or three months" before Mr Polanski arrives in the US if he contests the extradition. Mr Polanski was initially indicted on six counts and faced up to life in prison. He has not set foot in the US for more than 30 years.
A petition has been signed by film-makers and actors including Monica Bellucci and Fanny Ardant expressing dismay at Mr Polanski's arrest.
According to trade paper Screen Daily, Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is also backing the star.
"We're calling on every film-maker we can to help fix this terrible situation," Weinstein said.
Screen Daily said Weinstein immediately become involved when he was approached by Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux after Mr Polanski was taken into custody.
And British novelist Robert Harris said he was "shocked and stunned" at the arrest.
'Immense cultural scandal'
"It strikes me as disgusting treatment," he said.
Mr Polanski is directing a film adaptation of his book The Ghost. Harris said the production team were "reeling from the news".
The film is still being edited and is due to be released in February next year.
The Swiss Directors Association also criticised the move, describing the arrest as "not only a grotesque farce of justice, but also an immense cultural scandal".
Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said that because of agreements with the US, "when Mr Polanski arrived we had no choice from a legal point of view but to arrest him".
"He obviously has the right to appeal and I think he will do so," she added.
The film-maker was initially indicted on six counts and faced up to life in prison. He has not set foot in the US for more than 30 years.
The victim at the centre of the case, Samantha Geimer, has previously asked for the charges to be dropped. She has already sued Mr Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement.The victim at the centre of the case, Samantha Geimer, has previously asked for the charges to be dropped. She has already sued Mr Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement.
What is your reaction to Roman Polanski's detention? Send us your comments using the form below.What is your reaction to Roman Polanski's detention? Send us your comments using the form below.
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