In letter, Swiss say they sought Polanski data

By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch, Ap Special Correspondent
LOS ANGELES – The Swiss government asked the U.S. Justice Department to release sealed transcripts in the Roman Polanski case just days before a Los Angeles judge was told that the Swiss did not request that information, according to a letter from Swiss officials that points to apparent miscommunication in the case. The officials said that the denial of access to the information was the key factor in the refusal to extradite the film maker to the U.S., according to the letter to the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland.

A district attorney's spokeswoman said their office was never notified of the Swiss request and did not know that the Justice Department had turned it down. The letter dated Monday was obtained by The Associated Press Wednesday night. It provided a time line of when the request was filed and when it was turned down.

The letter blamed the denial of extradition solidly on the refusal by the Justice Department to show them transcripts of testimony by the film director's original prosecutor.
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