A US judge on Friday rejected a bid by a woman Roman Polanski raped as a teenager to close the case, saying the fugitive filmmaker must appear in court for the matter to be resolved.

US Judge Scott Gordon said in a 10-page ruling that while Samantha Geimer -- who was 13 at the time -- had clearly suffered because of the case, he could not dismiss it "merely because it would be in the victim's best interest."

Polanski fled the United States in 1978 before he could be sentenced after pleading guilty to having unlawful sex with Geimer.

Geimer has argued she wants to end the case so she can get on with her life.

Source: AFP