Polanski Granted Bail by Swiss Court
Bail slows extradition process while filmmaker is restricted to his resort chalet in the Swiss Alps.
Roman Polanski has been granted bail by a Swiss Federal Criminal Court on Wednesday as he continues to fight extradition to the United States. The Swiss court agreed to a $4.5 million dollar bail having denied previous requests, saying he's a flight risk. The filmmaker faces sentencing for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1978 when he left the country to avoid criminal prosecution.
Under the terms of the agreement, Polanski must surrender his identity papers while being continuously monitored electronically and would be restricted to a chalet he owns in the resort location of Gstaad.
The Justice Ministry has 10 days to submit an appeal to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. If it does not appeal, Polanski will be free to leave his jail cell.
Details surrounding the courts' decision to grant bail remain unclear, but prosecutors believe this will prolong the extradition process as Polanski will lose incentive to resolve the issue once out of jail. The Ministry of Justice argued for Polanski to remain behind bars until extradition is resolved, but Switzerland's justice minister told the Swiss national TV it was not going to appeal the court ruling.
