Polanski was officially charged in 1977, in Los Angeles for the sexual assault of a 13 year old girl, he later pled guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. To avoid sentencing, Polanski fled to his home in London, then on to France, and has had a U.S. arrest warrant outstanding since, and an international arrest warrant since 2005. Polanski has been under house arrest at his home in Gstaad, Switzerland, where Swiss authorities have to determine whether or not to extradite the Polanski to the United States.
The statement was released to the media by his old friend Bernard-Henri Lévy.
“I can remain silent no longer because the request for my extradition addressed to the Swiss authorities is founded on a lie,” wrote Polanski, who blames the HBO documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired for motivating LA prosecutors into acting on the 33 year old case.