Swiss officials have announced that film director Roman Polanski will not be extradited to the United States for the alleged drugging and raping of a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

The 76-year-old Polish-born film director had been under house arrest in his luxurious Swiss chalet for nine months while Swiss officials deliberated on extraditing him to the United States, where he is considered a wanted fugitive.

The extradition denial comes after media frenzy where French government officials and prominent Hollywood celebrities publicly condemned the United State’s extradition request and heralded Polanski’s work as an artist.

Earlier this year, a second woman came forward and claimed that the Oscar-winning director had sexually abused her when she was 16.

Swiss officials denied the extradition request because they claimed that Roman had already served his time for his crime.

In 1977, Roman was charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in Jack Nicholson‘s home. Roman had reportedly drugged and raped the young girl but eventually got the charges reduced to statutory rape, to which he plead guilty. Roman believed that he would serve his sentence in probation but when he heard that the judge was reconsidering his sentencing he fled the country, remaining a fugitive of the United States ever since.

For more celebrity scandals, check out BuzzStalker.

Things aren’t looking good for Roman Polanski. A second woman has come forward, claiming that the legendary director sexually abused her when she was 16. Read on for details.

Looks like Roman Polanski will be staying put for a while.

PopEater reports that the director, who’s currently being held and is facing extradition to the United States for having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in the 1970s, has lost a bid to be released on bail.

Explaining the decision, Swiss Justice Ministry spokesperson Folco Galli announced,

“We continue to be of the opinion that there is a high risk of flight.”

Polanski fled the U.S. in 1978 while awaiting sentencing, and had been on the lam until his arrest in Switzerland late last month. His legal team is also petitioning Switzerland’s highest criminal court to free him.

It’s been said that crime doesn’t pay—but for Roman Polanski, it sure does cost.

E! Online reports that Rosemary’s Baby director Polanski—who’s currently being held and faces sentencing for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in the 1970s—agreed to pay his victim, Samantha Geimer, $500,000 in 1993, more than a decade after he fled the United States.

The only thing is, it’s uncertain whether he ever paid the debt.

Court records indicate that Polanski offered to settle a lawsuit Geimer brought against him for sexual assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and—yes, you’re reading this right—seduction.

A half-mil settlement figure was arrived at, but Polanski missed the 1996 deadline to pony up. As of August 1996, according to court papers, he still owed the full sum, plus $100,000 or so in interest.

Maybe, if Polanski is extradited to the States, Geimer will have an opportunity to collect in person.

Now here’s one show-bizzer who’s not willing to make excuses for Roman Polanski.

People magazine reports that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has the power to grant clemency to Polanski should he be extradited to California for his child-rape case, says he would not issue a pardon to the Rosemary’s Baby director.

While being interviewed on CNN’s The Situation Room, Schwarzenegger noted,

“It doesn’t matter if you are a big-time movie actor or a big-time movie director or producer. I think that he is a very respected person, and I am a big admirer of his work. But nevertheless, I think he should be treated like everyone else…One should look into all of the allegations, not only his allegations but the allegations about his case. Was there something done wrong? You know, was injustice done in the case?”

Polanksi, who fled the country after being convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a then-13-year-old girl in the 1970s, was arrested on a warrant last month when trying to enter Switzerland to accept a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival.

Let us know in the comments section: Do you agree with Schwarzenegger’s approach to the matter?

Peter Fonda likes to keep things in perspective. Perhaps a little too much.

The Easy Rider actor is speaking up about director Roman Polanski, who’s currently facing charges of raping a 13-year-old girl in 1973.

According to Fonda, he doesn’t understand the hoopla over Polanksi because, hey, things could be worse.

Says Fonda,

“We should have been celebrating the arrest of Osama bin Laden and not the arrest of Polanski. [Roman Polanski] is not responsible for killing anyone.”

Oh, well, hey then; let’s throw open the prison gates and release all the non-murderers!

Have your say in the comments section: Does Peter Fonda have a point, other than the one on the top of his head?

Count Debra Tate among the people coming to director Roman Polanski‘s defense.

The sister of Polanski’s second wife, slain actress Sharon Tate, appeared on the Today show this week to make her case for Polanski, who’s currently  facing prosecution on charges of raping a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

Calling attention to Polanski’s philanthropic and humanitarian efforts, Tate opined,

“He’s a good guy; he’s brilliant as well…There was a deal made back in the ’70s where Roman would undergo evaluation and spend four months in jail, and he did that. He was evaluated not to be a pedophile. As I said, there’s rape, and then there’s rape. It was determined that Roman did not forcibly have sex with that young woman; it was a consensual matter.”

Wow.

Readers, have your say in the comments section: Do you think Roman Polanski is getting a bad rap, or is it time for him to pay his debt to society?

While both actresses could likely command top dollar for an on-screen catfight, both Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman are lending their claws for the sake of high art.

The stars, along with controversial film director Roman Polanski, have collaborated with Francesco Vezzoli, an Italian artist who specializes in faux advertising campaigns.

This time around, Vezzoli is making commentary on dramatic fragrance ads that feature stylized short films with A-list actors and directors (read: Nicole Kidman for Chanel, Charlize Theron for Dior.)

Portman and Williams star in “Greed,” which tells the tale of a villainous blonde Williams coveting raven-haired Portman’s precious bottled scent, resulting in romp on a hotel suite floor.

In stills released to DazedDigital.com, we can see the Academy Award-winning Polanski directing Williams on a stealth entrance and Portman on the perfect angle at which to rip out the Brokeback Mountain star’s hair.

The site even offers a teaser trailer for the film, to be screened on February 6th at Rome’s Gagosian Galler.

Reps for the gallery have been contacted to confirm that the stars and director will attend.