Forgive, forget? Famed director he might be, but Roman Polanski is a criminal

So, let's get this straight.

You sexually assault a 13-year-old, get convicted, and then skip out of the country before you can serve out a sentence.

And now, some 30 years later, you think that your crime should just be ignored -- in part because you are some fancy, award-winning director who has been living free as a bird for decades?

When you put it that way, it seems perfectly logical that Roman Polanski should be fighting his extradition to the United States to face the charges he skipped out on in the 1970s.

He must think he simply is beyond the law.

Now, there has been some bumbling on the part of the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office over the years. Why, if this man eluded a rightful charge, didn't someone pursue this more aggressively earlier? The people of that town certainly ought to ask that question. And why now? Polanski has not exactly been living in a cave. What reason is there for this arrest on this day?

But in the end, what matters is that we have laws and courts for a reason. Money should not buy you a "get out of jail free" card -- even if you are considered one of the greatest directors of all time and if your victim says she now forgives you.

The message you send when you "forgive" Polanski is that this country's justice system is for sale.

And that can't be good for anyone -- suspects or victims.

Published in Editorials on September 29, 2009 10:26 AM