Frédéric Mitterand (now there’s an interesting name), the French Culture minister, has said that Roman Polanski should not be detained under a valid extradition warrant and in this he is backed by a host of arty farties, pleading, on what grounds I do not know, that he be released. Jacek Bromski, head of the Polish Filmmakers Association said ‘most people feel he has atoned for the sins of his young years’. Is this right? Do they? I rather think they don’t.
Polanski was convicted, having pleaded guilty, to having had sex with a minor. In America as in Britain and other civilised countries this is regarded as rape because a child cannot be deemed able to consent. Again as in other countries it is not subject to a statute of limitations.
Of course Polanski must return to America to serve his sentence just as any other fugitive from justice would have to. What I want to know is how he came to live openly in France, having taken French citizenship. Is it the custom in France to offer sanctuary to convicted rapists and paedophiles on the run? What has been going on here? Mitterand says Sarkozy himself is urging that the warrant be dropped.
Why?
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