Roman Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland
and could be extradited to the United States in connection with a
1977 sex crime.
Swiss police arrested the 76-year-old director yesterday when he
arrived in Zurich for a film festival, where he was going to
receive an honorary award.
A spokesman for the Swiss Justice Ministry tells The Associated
Press that police acted because "there was a valid arrest request
and we knew when he was coming." He says U.S. officials must now
make a formal extradition request.
He didn't explain why Polanski wasn't arrested during previous
visits to Switzerland.
Polanski fled the United States in 1978, a year after he pleaded
guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.
Since then he has been living in France.
His French lawyer says he's trying to have the arrest warrant
lifted, and says it's "too early to know" if Polanski will be
extradited.
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