ROMAN POLANSKI - SCHWARZENEGGER WADES INTO POLANSKI DEBATE

SCHWARZENEGGER WADES INTO POLANSKI DEBATE

ROMAN POLANSKI should not receive special treatment because of his status as a movie director, according to ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.
The Terminator star has become the latest celebrity to join the debate over the legendary filmmaker as he battles extradition to the U.S. to face sentencing for unlawful sex with a minor.
Polanski, who fled America in 1978 after admitting bedding a 13 year old girl, has lived in exile in France for 30 years but was arrested when he travelled to Zurich, Switzerland for a film festival on Saturday (26Sep09).
Stars including Woody Allen, Penelope Cruz and Harvey Weinstein have since leaped to the director's defence, insisting he should be freed.
But former Cheers actress Kirstie Alley has slammed Polanski, writing on her Twitter.com blog: "This is one Hollywood star who does not CELEBRATE or DEFEND Roman Polanski."
And California Governor Schwarzenegger has joined Alley in calling for the Rosemary's Baby director to be spared preferential treatment.
He says, "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... And 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?"