娱乐英语新闻:U.S. prosecutors disappointed at Swiss decision to free Polanski

LOS ANGELES, July 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. prosecutors on Monday voiced disappointment over the Swiss government's refusal to extradite Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski wanted by the U.S. in a criminal case.

The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police announced earlier Monday that Polanski, who fled Los Angeles more than 30 years ago to avoid sentence for having unlawful sex with a minor, will not be extradited from Switzerland and was set free.

The decision was made because U.S. authorities failed to turn over certain documents related to the extradition request, according to a statement released by the Swiss government.

"I am deeply disappointed that the Swiss authorities denied the request to extradite Roman Polanski," said Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley. "Our office complied fully with all of the factual and legal requirements of the extradition treaty and requests by the U.S. and Swiss Departments of Justice and State."

Cooley insisted that U.S. prosecutors had done everything required of them to have Polanski extradited.

"We will discuss with the Department of Justice the extradition of Roman Polanski if he's arrested in a cooperative jurisdiction," Cooley said.

"Mr. Polanski is still convicted of serious child sex charges," said Cooley who led the effort to bring Polanski back to the United States.

Meanwhile, Laura Sweeney, spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice, said federal officials were "very disappointed" over the Swiss action.

"Whenever the United States seeks an individual's extradition, we do so on the basis that our request is supported by the facts and the terms of our treaty," Sweeney said.

"That is true in this case as well. We believe the extradition request submitted by the United States was fully supported by the evidence, met the requirements of the extradition treaty, and involved a serious offense. We are very disappointed in the decision of the Swiss government."

Polanski, who won an Oscar in 2002 for directing "The Pianist," was arrested in Switzerland last September in connection with his criminal case in Los Angeles.

He was placed under house arrest at his ski chalet in the Swiss resort of Gstaad after being released from custody in December.

Polanski, a French citizen, pleaded guilty in 1977 to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. He fled to France in 1978 before he could be sentenced. The U.S. lodged a formal extradition request at the end of last October.