Monday, July 12, 2010

The continuing misunderstanding with the American authorities


As the 'church lady' on Saturday Night Live use to say? "Well isn't that special!"

It seems that the Swiss have made their decision as it concerns the famous pedophile Roman Polanski. Seems the United States failed to satisfy the Swiss requirements of law and 'justice', in order for them to comply with the extradition warrant requesting the arrest and extradition of the now aged pedophile Roman Polanski.

Filmmaker Roman Polanski will not be extradited to the US, the Swiss Justice Ministry has decided.

"The reason for the decision lies in the fact that it was not possible to exclude with the necessary certainty a fault in the US extraditionary request," the Swiss Justice Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The announcement follows months of uncertainty over whether Polanski would have to return to the United States to face sentencing for having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.


"Considering all the aspects of this case – and in particular the extradition request which is not satisfying as far as the presentation of the facts of the case is concerned and the principles of state action deriving from international public order – the extradition request has to be rejected," the statement concluded.

According to Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, the United States has accepted the decision. The US does not have the possibility to appeal.

At a press conference in Bern on Monday, Widmer-Schlumpf emphasised the fact that Switzerland had acted without pressure from other countries.

Quoting one of Polanski's attorneys......"I pay tribute to the Swiss justice system; its legal analysis is very fair," said Kiejman, adding, “I think the continuing misunderstanding with the American authorities will be easier to settle and I hope he will one day be able to return to the US.”

That settles it then. The doddering old fool and widower to slain actress Sharon Tate, gets to return to his French villa and resume his bizarre little life. But we must give the Swiss credit though. They did arrest him back last September, and allow him to live unfettered in his Swiss villa all these months. (Them Swiss really know how to hurt a guy.)

Personally, I believe that this case should establish a precedent concerning international law and extradition treaties between America and other countries. Personally? I believe that if the Swiss can allow "convicted" pedophiles to walk free? Then we here in America certainly should allow those not ever convicted of crimes during WWII, from being extradited back to Israel to be tired and executed for things that occurred over sixty five years ago.

Let's just call a full stop to cooperation with any nation that seeks to have their criminals detained and sent back for justice. Let's simply look at the Swiss model and model our response accordingly.

After all, they do make a pretty fair chocolate bar and some good cheese.

No comments: