Extradition Request for Convicted Rapist Roman Polanski Denied

[Samson]

Last I checked, this was a "Should a child rapist be sent home to be sentenced" case, not a "which political/economic block should we try and curry favor with" case.

Really? Where were you looking? It seems to me that evert extradition case is a "which political/economic block should we try and curry favor with" case, hence france not having a treaty, britain bending over to the states and Switzerland being just Meh.

 

[warpus]

Seems to me like this is a pissing contest between two douchebags - a child rapist and the U.S. judicial system.

As far as I'm concerned they can both suck it

 

[Elrohir]

Really? Where were you looking? It seems to me that evert extradition case is a "which political/economic block should we try and curry favor with" case, hence france not having a treaty, britain bending over to the states and Switzerland being just Meh.

Oh, I'm quite sure that politics and economics play into a lot of extraditions. If, say, an agent of country X commits a crime in country Y, and flees to country Z, then Z definitely has to decide which country they're going to side with, because there are legitimate diplomatic and political consequences to be had. It's normal and expected to take politics into account when the crime committed is inherently entangled with politics.

But this isn't some espionage or diplomatic case. This is a guy, who raped a child, and then ran away. If the French are upset that a child-rapist might be sent to prison (Because "Oh! He's a cultural icon! That means he can do whatever he wants!") then they're being ridiculous; there's no legitimate diplomatic or political ramifications for France. If Switzerland lets Polanski go to curry favor with France (Or anyone else, or for any reason besides the arrest warrant being illegitimate, or Polanski facing treatment that violates human rights) then they are not living up to their end of the treaty, and they are acting abnormally. Politics are normally in play when it's a political matter. But this is a criminal matter -- and Switzerland, bizarrely enough, sided with the criminal.

 

[Grisu]

Supposedly this wasn't the first time nor was it always this way around. According to the federal council there have been cases where the US refused extradition to switzerland was well...so how does that fit in with your theory?

 

[Elrohir]

Supposedly this wasn't the first time nor was it always this way around. According to the federal council there have been cases where the US refused extradition to switzerland was well...so how does that fit in with your theory?

Impossible to say, since you've given me absolutely no details?

 

[Grisu]

Impossible to say, since you've given me absolutely no details?

That's because I have none. I only have the word of the justice minister at the official press conference (that's why I wrote supposedly) But since those most likely were no celebs it's unlikely to find any details online...

 

[Samson]

Oh, I'm quite sure that politics and economics play into a lot of extraditions. If, say, an agent of country X commits a crime in country Y, and flees to country Z, then Z definitely has to decide which country they're going to side with, because there are legitimate diplomatic and political consequences to be had. It's normal and expected to take politics into account when the crime committed is inherently entangled with politics.

But this isn't some espionage or diplomatic case. This is a guy, who raped a child, and then ran away. If the French are upset that a child-rapist might be sent to prison (Because "Oh! He's a cultural icon! That means he can do whatever he wants!") then they're being ridiculous; there's no legitimate diplomatic or political ramifications for France. If Switzerland lets Polanski go to curry favor with France (Or anyone else, or for any reason besides the arrest warrant being illegitimate, or Polanski facing treatment that violates human rights) then they are not living up to their end of the treaty, and they are acting abnormally. Politics are normally in play when it's a political matter. But this is a criminal matter -- and Switzerland, bizarrely enough, sided with the criminal.

What I am saying is that every extradition request has more to do with international politics that justice or treaty. As this is an extradition request, is HAS to be a "which political/economic block should we try and curry favor with" case.

Treaties always have enough provisos that strictly legally any request can be honoured or not as is politically expedient at the time. In the end it is all politics, which is sad, particully for the victim or accused depending on the case.

Just for the record, this dirty expotative man should be locked up somewhere.

 

[The Imp]

Switzerland made the wrong decision, and there is little the US can realistically do about it, unless Polanski makes another mistake.

 

[innonimatu]

He should have gone to prison years ago, France should have extradited him back when the crime was committed... sending him to prison nowadays would not really accomplish anything (though I won't lose any sleep were it to happen).

Agreed. I just think that the swiss should have simply rejected to even consider extradition for a crime committed so long ago. Don't they have some form of prescription for crimes?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

In the UK we don't let people get away with a crime if a long time has passed after it was committed. I don't know if that applies in the rest of Europe.

 

[Elrohir]

That's because I have none. I only have the word of the justice minister at the official press conference (that's why I wrote supposedly) But since those most likely were no celebs it's unlikely to find any details online...

Well, I can hardly say whether or not I think the US is acting rightly or wrongly (Or hypocritically) in denying certain extradition requests if you given me no details about those cases!

What I am saying is that every extradition request has more to do with international politics that justice or treaty. As this is an extradition request, is HAS to be a "which political/economic block should we try and curry favor with" case.

Treaties always have enough provisos that strictly legally any request can be honoured or not as is politically expedient at the time. In the end it is all politics, which is sad, particully for the victim or accused depending on the case.

Just for the record, this dirty expotative man should be locked up somewhere.

I'm well aware that these cases often involve international politics. I just don't think that this particular case is a political matter, so it should not be determined by political expediency. The Swiss may or may not have done so, I don't know. I was merely objecting to Winner's post, where he seemed to say that Switzerland denied the request because of political feelings in Europe, rather than the merits of the case.

 

[Red Door]

Told ya.

Good decision, but it should have never happened in the first place.

Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil. - Thomas Mann

 

[Babbler]

Of course, let's ignore the inconvenient fact that the "victim" herself doesn't even want to pursue the case any more. This case ceased to be about justice decades ago, now it's just about the American ego.

Why did you put "victim" in quotation marks? She was sexual assaulted and thus is a victim regardless.

One would almost think the US has better things to do. Aren't there any rich bankers and managers to put on trial? You know, the guys who almost brought the global economy to its knees...

That's irrelevant in this case. The fact that the US justice system is going after Wall Street as hard as it should doesn't allow child rapists to go scott free.

Seems to me like this is a pissing contest between two douchebags - a child rapist and the U.S. judicial system.

As far as I'm concerned they can both suck it

There are many, many problems with the US judicial system, but isn't this an example of it working? They are trying to get a fugitive rapist to justice; people are protecting him only because of his fame and talent. There maybe two douchebags involved here, but one is definitely acting doucher than the other.

 

[woody60707]

I am really torn by this. On one hand we have a rich scumbag who really should do some time. On the other we have a massivly one sided extradition procedure that normally involves european govenments bending over backward to extradite their citizens to the US, and the US not handing over people accused of far more serious crimes.

Wait, what? How many crimes do you know of that are far more serious then drugging and raping a 13 yr old girl? Drugging, raping and killing a 13 yr old girl is about the only one that really tops that one.

 

[BuckyRea]

How many crimes do you know of that are far more serious then drugging and raping a 13 yr old girl? Drugging, raping and killing a 13 yr old girl is about the only one that really tops that one.

The failure to extradite Pinochet, while not really paralleling either the type of crime nor the same countries involved in the Polansky case, is an example of greater crime that resulted in the bad guy getting away.

 

[woody60707]

Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil. - Thomas Mann

I don't believe in evil.

 

[woody60707]

How many crimes do you know of that are far more serious then drugging and raping a 13 yr old girl? Drugging, raping and killing a 13 yr old girl is about the only one that really tops that one.

The failure to extradite Pinochet, while not really paralleling either the type of crime nor the same countries involved in the Polansky case, is an example of greater crime that resulted in the bad guy getting away.

Got this Pinochet T-shirt Just saying

 

[Grisu]

Agreed. I just think that the swiss should have simply rejected to even consider extradition for a crime committed so long ago. Don't they have some form of prescription for crimes?

There's no prescription for sex-crimes against minors, though that wasn't the case back when Polanski commited the crime, so I don't really know.

Well, I can hardly say whether or not I think the US is acting rightly or wrongly (Or hypocritically) in denying certain extradition requests if you given me no details about those cases!

That's exactly what the swiss justice told the US Really, I'm not saying that switzerland without doubt acted correctly. It's quite possible that they made a mistake her. What bothered me in this discussion here was that several posters didn't even take into account that the mess up could have happened on the US side. Once again, if they wanted Polanski so badly, why didn't they comply with the swiss request? Cooperation often brings you further than flat out demands..

I was merely objecting to Winner's post, where he seemed to say that Switzerland denied the request because of political feelings in Europe, rather than the merits of the case.

I totally agree with you on this one. Though it wasn't just Winner who seems to have this opinion. Mobboss seems to think that too.

 

[Abaddon]

I am really dissapointed with this. I had been following it fairly closely an to have it collapse on some stupid technicality like this really irks me. :/

 

[Snorrius]

Well, after reading more information, it seems that US have screwed up. If they wanted him that badly they should provided all requested papers.