Holes in Swiss Justice Too: Roman Polanski Freed, Extradition to US Denied

BERN, Switzerland — Roman Polanski was declared a free man on Monday after Switzerland rejected a U.S. request to extradite him to be sentenced for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl.

The Swiss government blamed the decision on U.S. authorities, saying they had failed to address defense arguments that the 76-year-old filmmaker had actually served his sentence before fleeing Los Angeles three decades ago.

Nine months after arresting Polanski, the Justice Ministry said U.S. officials should have backed up their request by providing confidential testimony about Polanski's sentencing procedure in L.A.

"Mr. Polanski can now move freely," Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf declared. "He's a free man."

The stunning decision could end the United States' long pursuit of Polanski. France, where he has spent much of his time, does not extradite its own citizens and Polanski has had little trouble traveling throughout Europe — even if he's stayed away from Britain.

Polanski will remain a fugitive in the United States unless American authorities move to drop the extradition request. They cannot appeal the Swiss decision. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and the U.S. Justice Department declined to comment on their next steps.

The Swiss decision was praised by senior government officials in France and Poland, where he holds dual citizenship. But there was criticism from groups representing victims of sexual abuse.

The Oscar-winning director of "Rosemary's Baby," "Chinatown" and "The Pianist" was accused of plying his victim with champagne and part of a Quaalude during a 1977 modeling shoot and raping her. He was initially indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molesting and sodomy, but pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse.

In exchange, the judge agreed to drop the remainin ...