The Case of Roman Polanski's 'Sexual Assault' Closed by Mutual Agreement

Roman Polanski's lawyer, Alexander Rufus Isaac, announced that the case regarding allegations of 'sexual assault' against a teenage girl in the United States dating back to the 1970s has been settled out of court between the parties involved. On Wednesday, November 2, he told AFP that the case, which was set to be heard in a Los Angeles court next August, has been withdrawn following an agreement between the parties. He added, 'With the full consent of both parties, this complaint has been withdrawn, and the court has officially dismissed it.' This complaint, submitted to California judicial authorities in 2023, claimed that Roman Polanski invited a teenage girl, whose full name was not specified in the complaint, to dinner at a restaurant in 1973. The complaint further states that Mr. Polanski, after giving the teenage girl several glasses of tequila, took her to his home while she was intoxicated and sexually assaulted her. The plaintiff's lawyer explained the case to reporters in Farvardin (April) this year, stating, 'The victim repeatedly begged him not to do this. The plaintiff claims that the accused ignored her pleas, undressed, and continued the sexual assault, causing severe physical and emotional pain to the victim.' This civil complaint, which did not specify the exact amount of damages sought, was filed in June 2023, shortly before the legal deadline in California was extended for filing historical sexual assault claims. Gloria Allred, the plaintiff's lawyer, also told AFP on Tuesday, 'An agreement was reached based on the full consent of both parties and outside of court regarding this complaint.' Roman Polanski, the director of famous works such as 'Rosemary's Baby,' 'The Tenant,' and 'Chinatown,' won an Oscar for directing 'The Pianist.' Now 91 years old, Mr. Polanski has become a controversial figure in the arts and cinema over recent decades. Some praise him for his creative genius, while others emphasize that he has always been a sexual predator and criminal. This is not the first case against Roman Polanski for 'rape and sexual assault' in the United States. After being arrested in 1977, he confessed to the rape of a 13-year-old girl named Samantha Geimer to avoid trial for more serious charges. However, after spending 42 days in jail, and when it seemed the presiding judge intended to reconsider his parole ruling, he fled to France. Years later, Samantha Geimer defended Roman Polanski, and a photo of them together was published last year. In recent years, other allegations against Mr. Polanski have also been raised by women actors. A notable case was the trial of Roman Polanski in France based on a complaint from British actress Charlotte Lewis. In May of this year, the court acquitted Mr. Polanski of the charge of defaming Ms. Lewis at the end of the proceedings. Charlotte Lewis accused Roman Polanski of sexual assault when she was 16 years old in 2010. Mr. Polanski described the actress's claims as 'a vile lie' in an interview with the French magazine 'Match' last year. In response to this interview, Ms. Lewis sued him for defamation, which led to an indictment against the director.