New York, October 18: French President Nicolas Sarkozy has offered his support to Hollywood filmmaker Roman Polanski who has been detained by Swiss authorities for a sex offence.
Sarkozy has insisted that a 76-year-old man should not have been arrested for crimes he committed 32 years ago, reports.
The moviemaker, who fled to France in 1978 as he awaited sentencing for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at a Hollywood party, was arrested by Swiss authorities while attending a film festival in Zurich last month.
Polanski is fighting extradition to the US, where prosecutors hope to conclude his sentencing. Now Sarkozy has joined a group of Hollywood stars and industry moguls in questioning Polanski’s detention.
“I understand that people are shocked by the gravity of the accusations against Roman Polanski, but it is not a good administration of justice to do this 32 years after the facts when the person concerned is today 76 years old,” he said.
Polanski’s victim, Samantha Geimer, has already forgiven the director for his actions in 1977, insisting Polanski does not deserve to be behind bars.
—IANS