Polanski Arrested

Controversial filmmaker ROMAN POLANSKI has been arrested in Switzerland.

He was taken into custody on Saturday (26Sep09) on a 1978 U.S. warrant, which was issued after Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.

The 76 year old fled to France before sentencing in 1978 and has been unable to travel to the U.S. since the warrant was issued.

Polanski was held upon his arrival in Switzerland, where he was due to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival on Sunday (27Sep09).

Polanski, a French citizen, had been battling to have the case thrown out in recent months, but a U.S. judge formally rejected his requests in May (09).

A representative for Polanski could not be reached as WENN went to press.