The U.S. will continue to "pursue justice" on the case of film director Roman Polanski, charged with child abuse, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of State said.
The Oscar-winning director, 76, best known for his films Rosemary's Baby (1968), Chinatown (1974), and the Pianist (2002), fled the U.S. in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. Polanski was detained in Switzerland last September after arriving for the Zurich Film Festival.
On Monday Swiss authorities decided not to honor the U.S. extradition request, alluding to potential technical errors.
"The United States believes that the rape of a 13-year-old child by an adult is a crime. And we continue to pursue justice in this case and I'll let other countries explain actions they've taken or actions they've failed to take," Philip Crowley said.
"A 13-year-old girl was drugged and raped by an adult. This is not a matter of technicality," he added.
WASHINGTON, July 13 (RIA Novosti)
