Polanski freed on bail of €3m

Thursday, December 03, 2009

FILM-MAKER Roman Polanski, who is fighting extradition to the United States on a child sex conviction, will be released on bail tomorrow and taken to his chalet, the Swiss justice ministry said.

"Roman Polanski will be transferred on Friday to his chalet in Gstaad" in western Switzerland, ministry spokesman Folco Galli said, adding that he would be released from jail near Zurich in north-eastern Switzerland on the same day.

The French-Polish film director, who has been hunted by the United States ever since he fled in 1978 after admitting having sex with a 13-year-old girl, was arrested in Switzerland on September 26. He was granted bail of €3m last week, on condition that he remains under house arrest at his chalet.

The 76-year-old will wear an electronic surveillance bracelet to ensure he stays within the grounds of his property.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, December 03, 2009