It’s been four decades since director, Roman Polanski, was arrested for the rape of a minor and after fleeing the United States, he now wants back in.
Polanski, whose directorial work on The Pianist won him an Oscar, was indicted in 1977 on five charges, including “rape by use of drugs” and “furnishing a controlled substance to a minor” after having sex with the then 13-year-old, Samantha Geimer.
He pled guilty to the lesser charge of “unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor” and as a result, was only required to serve 90 days in state prison in addition to psychiatric evaluation. He was released early, but high-tailed out of the country to avoid the possibility of a heavier penalty.
The case has extended even into recent years, with Poland’s supreme court denying the United States’ request to extradite Polanski October 2015.
The plea deal that was to allow Polanski to walk away from his conviction after a light sentence had been signed by Judge Laurence Rittenband, who passed away in 1993. Polanski claimed the judge went back on the deal afterwards and wanted Polanski to serve 50 years of jail time, an accusation Rittenband denied up until his death.
Earlier today, it was reported that Harland Braun, Polanski’s lawyer, sent a request to the Los Angeles County Superior Court to unseal the 1977 documents detailing the agreement to prove Polanski had served his sentence, fair and square.
“First we have to unseal the secret transcript,” the lawyer told TheWrap. “After we confirm the contents, we will urge the court to recognize the Polish decision resulting from a litigation initiated by the DA and in which the DA participate. If the Court accepts the principle of comity, Roman can come to Los Angeles and to court without fear of custody“.
#Peace.Love.RomanPolanski
