Polanski Wins Bail in Switzerland

26 November 2009

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Roman Polanski is set to be released from prison in Switzerland, after winning his fourth attempt at bail in his ongoing child sex case.

The Rosemary's Baby director has been held behind bars since his arrestin September (09) on an international warrant relating to a 1977 charge of unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Polanski pleaded guilty to the crime but fled the U.S. in 1978 before he could be sentenced.

high risk he would try to flee again

The Swiss Criminal Court granted Polanski bail on Wednesday (25Nov09), accepting the $4.5 million (£2.8 million) offer of a cash bail secured by his apartment in Paris, France, to allow him to remain under house arrest at his Swiss chalet.

The decision came as a surprise after a string of setbacks for the director, whose three previous appeals to be released from prison were rejected because of the "high" risk he would try to flee again.

Polanski, who is still considered a flight risk, will remain in prison for up to 10 days while the Swiss government decides whether to appeal.

Under house arrest, the filmmaker would be subjected to "constant electronic surveillance" at his chalet and an alarm would be activated if he leaves the premises or takes off the bracelet.

The verdict does not affect an ongoing assessment of whether Polanski should be extradited to the U.S. Authorities in the country formally requested his extradition last month (Oct09) but Swiss officials have yet to decide whether to grant the motion.