Roman Polanski accused of unlawful sex with a minor

@Doug: Polański can sleep without worrying. In his "case", 3 countries would be involved (he's also a French citizen and lives in France and in Switzerland and on top of that Switzerland is not in EU ;)) so Kaszyński talked nonsense! ;)

It's funny you focus on such judicial technicalites as plea bargaining without as much as mentioning the nasty and vile activity the promiscuous Polański had engaged in. If the victim had been your 13-year-old daughter I wonder whether you would be equally generous, understanding and "liberal" towards the victimiser?!

It is funny to see that all the Left-Wing british here need to defend a RAPIST to attack PiS (which want to see this rapist where he belongs, Jail).

"PIS want Roman Polanski to be extradited"

What you strange individuals apparently don't get is that vast majority of people here would like to see this damn pedophile where he belongs - in prison and the only reason why he hasn't been rotting there yet is the stinking European approach to "elites" - that they are allowed to do thing average Joes wouldn't get away with. Get ready Roman :)))))))))

For myself, it isn't about locking him up. Guilt (which he admitted) and punishment are a matter for the courts in the appropriate jurisdiction, not public opinion or legal systems elsewhere. It's just a shame that France, Poland etc haven't responded to the extradition requests - if it was the other way round, politicians of every party would have been squealing in outrage.

But good that PiS have finally come round to a point of view that was ignored during their last ill-fated term of office, even if it may not be for the right reasons.

"and punishment are a matter for the courts in the appropriate jurisdiction"

True. Just send him to the US.

That's very much the point here. While Polanski is a repulsive individual who entirely deserves the lengthy prison sentence his admitted behaviour requires, courts should not do what they are told to do by politicians.


Cross-dressing is perfectly legal in the UK, just as it is in Poland. However, stating that one intends to kill anybody is illegal here and there.

The courts aren't being told what to do.
The courts just want the politicians to do their job and extradite the creep back to the U.S.A. so they can do their job.

So far it looks like the PiS has some balls to do the right thing.
His French citizenship is void as this crime occurred before he obtained it.
If the French politicians had any balls they would extradite him themselves.

There are a couple of issues here. Firstly the way extradition works is that the American courts have to contact the Polish courts and they make a decision based on the law as it stands. Secondly, it's up to the politicians to change the laws that the courts apply. And finally, politicians trying to interfere in the work of the courts, police etc (other than making the laws which is their right) is usually a disaster

@Johnny: if you say that Polanski was issued French citizenship after the "situation", as he was born in France, I don't think it'd would be very hard for him to get citizenship from birth on (citizenship in France is based upon "soil" and not blood). Kaczynski shall soon realize there is nothing he can do..

If he is under protection of the warrior frog, the whole world can do nothing about it...

@Johnny: in order to have French citizenship taken away from them, foreigners have to be guilty of killing cops and if I am not wrong it happened only twice in several hundreds of years.

Kaszynski got yelled at by Swedish ambassador to Poland recently for saying bs about Sweden and now he shows that he does not know anything re international laws ;).

Oh InPolska...
You do realise that on Polish soil he's Polish and Polish only? French can try to pressure Poland but they can't do anything on the law level. Try again.

@Shaman: in France, "soil" prevails (that's the reason why for instance so many women in nearby South America go to French Guiana or women from Comores Islands go to Mayotte to deliver their kids because kids born on French soil are automatically French). Therefore, Polanski as born in France, can claim French citizenship from birth on (+ French wife and kids) and Kaszynski or anyone can do nothing against Polanski.

Instead of barking in the desert, Kaszynski should learn about international laws.

Moved from another thread
When he's on Polish soil his other citizenships doesn't matter. French may bite their ... but that's the Polish law.He never gave up his Polish citizenship so he has to deal with Polish law.

@Shaman: you are really stubborn ;). This is plain bs. Am now watching Swiss news on Swiss channel and ... nothing! Besides, there are international laws and Poland is not above them. Polanski does not live in Poland (why should he?) and as also a French citizen, the Polish goverment cannot do anything against him (normal). There is a huge difference between what Kaszynski may wish and what he can do. Even dictatorships don't do it because they know they cannot.

@Shaman: source Yahoo.com (26.10) "Polanski is safe when staying in France because French law does NOT extradict their citizens" and therefore Kaszynski may say whatever he wants..... Whether you like it or not, the world is very complex and Kaszynski is not some sort of a "living god" with supernatural powers and above international laws. If matter is considered, it shall take years because several countries (including Switzerland since he is a resident there) involved and Polanski shall be dead by then...

Sorry to rain on your parade! ;)

Aparently you have problems with reading-I said ON POLISH SOIL.
Polanski does come to Poland. That's for example when he was questioned. And he can be extradited from Poland as any other Polish citizen.

And the politician's name is KaCzynski

@Shaman: of course, he can be questioned, a Polish court may even decide against him (and he can appeal) BUT since he has TWO nationalities, France shall also have to intervene and the case shall last years and years and Polanski shall be dead in the meantime. I thought Kaszynski was a lawyer, how can't he be aware of this???? ;). Polanski may also go up to Strasbourg Court of Justice.

At worst (for Polanski), Polish, French and American governments shall have to negotiate and of course it'll take years ;).

Also very strange that justice is not independent from politicians in Poland ;).

It is called populism. Tell them what they want to hear regardless of whether it is doable or not.

Does Polański actually maintain Polish citizenship? Dual nationals are required to enter and exit Poland on Polish documents only (kind of moot since Schengen).

But generally dual citizenship doesn't apply when the person is in one of their countries of citizenship (how it generally works in practice no matter what the laws say).

I think Polański is an above average film artist (not great but above average), a loathesome human being and if he never sets foot in Poland again it'll be too soon. The French want him? Fine he can stay there for eternity. There's no reason whatsoever for him to travel internationally.

And I'm pretty sure the Americans really don't want him, it's more or less common knowledge that Hollywood is full of pedophilic and other sexual predators and I'm sure he knows where some bodies are buried (I mean that literally).

@Polsyr: Absolutely, pure populism! If they were able to think 1/2 a second, they would realize that in case of binationals, things are very complicated. Polish justice may condemn Polanski but since he's also a citizen of a country which does NOT extradict their citizens, the case shall take years and years and shall never be settled as Polanski shall be dead by then.

I personally don't like Kaszynski but I did not know he was so stupid. As a lawyer, doesn't he know?

(of course, situation is different, but yesterday because of current thread, I thought about Julian Assange. Since protected from a (Ecuadorian?) government, neither UK nor Sweden can do anything against him).

Besides, how come Polish government intervenes in a court case? Is justice in Poland not independent?

PS: strange enough, yesterday when I googled, I did find nothing in French so obviously only a Kazynski's sick mind and French authorities do not feel concerned because nothing to be concerned about and should Polanski be so afraid, he would lock himself up in his Paris apartment ;).

Doesn't Poland have more serious problems to deal with?

@Maf; since Polanski is ALSO (or only?) a French citizen, France is also to be involved in matter (normal) and as I said, case is very complicated and far beyond Kaszynski's competence and whims...

Perhaps this is just meant to be a message: Stay out of Poland, you filthy child rapist! Stay in your country that supports child rapists!

@Maf: 1. how do you know that he is a "rapist"??? 2. France does NOT extradict their citizens BUT French justice deals with those guilty of wrong doing abroad ;). Of course, for a primitive basher, too hard to get informed and to understand ;)

Seriously?????

He is a convicted rapist.

so, if he is, he'll then be dealt with by French justice (since NO extradiction from France for French nationals).

The issue here is not Polanski's past sexual attraction to pubescent girls, which has been addressed by the courts, sexologists et al, but in fact Kaczynski's lack of any intelligence and his style of running roughshod over all diplomatic protocol.

Here's looking forward to Chairman proclamation number two hundred... it's just a matter of time. As Delph said, you couldn't make it up :)

@Absolutely, Dougpol! Of course cheap demagogy does not explain all the legal aspects but relies on mob rule (it works well in PF ;)).

In case of BInationals, it is very often most complicated and in case of Polanski, he is (also?) the citizen of a country which does not allow extradiction of their own people. No, Maf, France does not protect rapists, they judge them ;). When French people are in France but suspected of wrongdoings abroad, they are judged in France and do their time in French jails. France shall not change their laws to please Kaszynski.. "lol"

At best, case shall take years and years and Polanski and also Kaszuynski shall be dead in the meantime..

Let's ask the grandfather of all knowledge, the wiki elders

"Polanski pleaded guilty to the charge of "Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a minor"

aka "statutory rape" a 13 year old girl cannot legally consent to sexual activity (maybe in France....)

For the record, I don't think he should be extradited to the US, but I see no reason for him to ever set foot out of France. He raped in in his bed, let him sleep in it.

Worth noting though, that he got a plea bargain and " Unlawful sexual Intercourse with a minor " was the lesser charge he accepted.
Once again, according to the Wiki elders, what he was actually charged with this:

" Roman Polanski was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with five offenses against Samantha Gailey, a 13-year-old girl[1] - rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.[2] At his arraignment Polanski pleaded not guilty to all charges,[3] but later accepted a plea bargain whose terms included dismissal of the five initial charges[4] in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse.[4][5]

He does maintain that he was stitched up by a prosecutor who went back on a deal. How true that is, is probably only known by him and the prosecutor in question. On the matter of whether he did it or not, or what he did, he doesn't say, nor does he deny it.