 "Photo: Photo courtesy of MCT Campus")
30 years is a long time to run from the police, but that’s exactly what Roman Polanski got away with. According to AP News, in 1977, a then-44-year-old Polanski became involved in a scandal involving 13-year-old Samantha Gailey.
The Oscar-winning director pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with Gailey in 1978, but soon after, he fled from the U.S. and a warrant for his arrest was immediately issued. An international warrant was put out in 2005. He was finally arrested on September 26, 2009, while trying to escape to Switzerland to attend the Zurich Film Festival to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.
It is obvious that what he did to Gailey laid very heavily on his conscience. He pled guilty, then ditched the USA and traveled around Europe, trying to escape the law. He got away with it for three decades before law enforcement finally caught up with him.
The Swiss Justice Ministry rejected his plea to be released from custody, so he will remain incarcerated for an extended period of time because they believe he is a danger to society. Although it is a great reflief to know he’s in custody, how does it take that long to capture a sex offender? And what human being can live life while dealing with a guilty conscience for that many years?
Polanski has citizenship in both Poland and France; at the time of his arrest, both countries were supporting him and not cooperating with the US. However, a few days later, they changed their minds and sided with the US. Even his own places of citizenship don’t want him to disgrace them anymore.
Regardless of status, celebrity, fame, awards, and popularity, a crime is still a crime. Rape, drugging, and sexual abuse are despicable acts, no matter who commits them. Polanski doesn’t deserve to get away with his crimes simply because he is a talented director.
Unfortunately for celebrities in today’s world, fame isn’t a defense in court--and court is exactly where Polanski should be going. Samantha Gailey deserves justice for what she had to go through, and that justice will not be served until Polanski pays for what he did, whatever that price might be. As terrible and bizarre as this case is, it just needs to end so everyone involved can finally move on.
Polanski is a 76-year-old award-winning director and he is spending his days now in a Switzerland jail cell because of a choice he made 30 years ago. Actions have consequences and apparently he didn’t think his would catch up to him. Fame and awards don’t protect a person from the law, and hopefully Polanski learned that when his wrists were cuffed. He’ll have time to think about his actions while he’s sitting in jail.
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