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tliet
.. But the case they now make it out to be is a bit over the top as well. I think they ought to have bigger fish to fry.
I'm a little late to this particular game, but: no. There are two offenses here. One is the rape, which is disgusting and offensive and deserving of jail time. The other is fleeing the country to escape punishment. And this too is a serious offense. I'm sorry, but Polanski doesn't get to live a long and comfortable life in France, raising a family and receiving plaudits for his work--all things that would not have been possible, or at least would have been substantially delayed had he stayed in the US to face punishment for a crime to which he pled guilty--and then, when the authorities finally catch up to him, claim that he should be left alone because he's an old man. The only reason he's facing punishment now, rather than shortly after the offense, is that he fled three decades ago, and it's entirely appropriate to send a strong message that flight is not a get out of jail free card.