Swiss Government Denies Polanski's Request to be Released
On Tuesday the Swiss Justice Ministry denied Roman Polanski's request to be released from prison while he waits for a decision about possible extradition to the United States.
Polanski's lawyers hoped that the filmmaker would be set free under the conditions of house arrest in his Swiss home in Gstaad or that he could simply make bail. But the Swiss government could not be swayed. Ministry spokesperson Folco Galli told the AP that Polanski could not be set free because of the high probability that he will flee the country.
On Sept. 29 Polanski's legal team filed a separate appeal that requested the director's complete freedom. If Polanksi loses his case and is extradited to the United States, the "Rosemary's Baby" director will face charges for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
