Thursday, October 22, 2009
Swiss tipped off U.S.
GENEVA — Swiss officials tipped off the United States and set in motion the arrest of director Roman Polanski last month in his decades-old child-sex case, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. On Wednesday, a top Swiss official defended the move. Justice Ministry spokesman Folco Galli said the ministry sent an urgent fax to the U.S. Office of International Affairs on Sept. 22 stating Polanski was traveling to Zurich. The director was to be feted at a film festival, and Swiss officials wanted to know if the U.S. would be submitting a request for his arrest as he was the subject of an international law enforcement “Red Notice.” “The Americans immediately confirmed that was the case,” Galli said. As a result, Switzerland was required by treaty to apprehend Polanski, he said.
Galli said authorities went after Polanski now, even though the 76-year-old filmmaker has been a frequent visitor to Switzerland, because his appearance was widely advertised.
Today’s birthdays
Actress Joan Fontaine is 92. Actor Christopher Lloyd is 71. Actress Annette Funicello is 67. Actress Catherine Deneuve is 66. Guitarist Leslie West of Mountain is 64. Actor Jeff Goldblum is 57. Comedian Carlos Mencia is 42. Director Spike Jonze is 40. Drummer Zac Hanson of Hanson is 24. Actor Jonathan Lipnicki (“Jerry Maguire”) is 19.
The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.