A travesty of justice

The Swiss decision this week to let movie director and child rapist Roman Polanski go free was a travesty of justice and an obvious concession to those who value celebrity over the rule of law.

The Swiss Justice Ministry noted, among other things, that Polanski's victim, who was 13 at the time of the attack, has since identified herself and joined in asking for him to be released. This is utterly irrelevant. A minor does not have the legal standing to consent to sexual relations with an adult. Any adult who does such a thing, regardless of how the victim may say he or she feels about it later, has committed a serious crime and must face the consequences. To rule anything less is to minimize an act that is cruel and can destroy a child's life, and it is unfair to the many other children who are victims.

When the facts are examined in this case, American courts don't look so good, either. Polanski pleaded guilty to plying his victim with alcohol and a Quaalude while she was posing for a modeling shoot in 1977. He took her to the home of Jack Nicholson, who was away, and raped her. For this, he was allowed to plead guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse and was sentenced to 90 days. He had served 42 days when an evaluator deemed him OK to release. Polanski fled after the judge said he needed to return to serve the rest of his 90 days, which was a paltry sentence to begin with, in relation to the awful crime.

Ever since Swiss authorities arrested him last September and placed him under house arrest pending a decision on a request from the U.S. Justice Department and the Los Angeles Superior Court to have him extradited, Americans have been subjected to whining from Polanski's supporters, including Hollywood stars and artists in Europe. His French lawyer talked about the "pain suffered by Roman Polanski and his family."

Polanski had been confined to his own Alpine chalet, worth several millions of dollars. The truth is he has never had to suffer a punishment commensurate with his crime. Rather than suffer pain, he has been let off the hook, something he didn't do to his victim.

No average person, American or European, would be likely to get away with such a thing. People may be quick to wink at the indiscretions of celebrities, but men who turn children into sexual prey should not be set free.

Polanski remains a fugitive in this country, but the chances of bringing him to justice are now slim. The best that outraged people can do is refuse to see his movies.