Swiss Courts Deny Polanski's Bid For Freedom
Director will stay jailed as he fights extradition to the U.S. on child rape charges
Updated 9:32 AM EDT, Tue, Oct 6, 2009
.jpg "Roman Polanski will stay behind bars as his case works its way through the Swiss courts.")
Roman Polanski will stay behind bars as he await his extradition hearing on a 31-year-old California charge of child rape, Swiss officials ruled.
The Swiss Justice Ministry denied the 76-year-old director's legal bid to be freed while his case works its way through the courts. Polanski jumped bail in 1978 in California when he feared the plea deal he'd agreed to for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl would be rejected by the judge. He was nabbed Sept. 26 as he arrived in Zurich to receive an award from a film festival.
Authorities in Los Angeles consider him a convicted felon and a fugitive, and Switzerland says there has been an international warrant out on him since 2005. Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer, settled with the director for $500,000 in 1993, and now says she forgives him.
Get more: MSNBC
First Published: Oct 6, 2009 7:07 AM EDT
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