Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski has been granted bail while he awaits a ruling on his extradition request by U.S. authorities for rape charges in California. Above the Law and WSJ.com Law Blog have more. From the Wall Street Journal:
A Swiss court agreed Wednesday to release Roman Polanksi on bail of 4.5 million Swiss francs ($4.5 million), persuaded that the large sum was enough to keep the Oscar-winning film director from fleeing the country while he awaits a ruling on whether he would be extradited to the U.S.
In granting Mr. Polanski's request, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court reversed a decision last month by the Swiss Justice Ministry to reject his offer to put up his ski chalet in the tony resort of Gstaad as a guarantee. At the time, the ministry said the lack of a cash guarantee might not keep Mr. Polanski from attempting to flee the country. The ministry now has 10 days to appeal the court's decision, but a spokesman said it would make a decision much sooner.
Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said she saw "no reason" to appeal Mr. Polanski's release, the Associated Press and Swiss TV reported. The ministry had no further comment on the court's ruling. Mr. Polanski's lawyer in France had no immediate comment.
Mr. Polanski has been in a Swiss jail since police arrested him Sept. 25 upon his arrival in Zurich, where he was slated to receive an award at a film festival. He was arrested on a U.S. warrant issued in 1978 when he fled California after pleading guilty to having had sex with an underage girl. In late October, U.S. authorities filed a formal request for him to be extradited. The Swiss Justice Ministry is still processing that request, but is expected to make its decision within about a month, according a person familiar with the situation.
In granting Mr. Polanski's request, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court reversed a decision last month by the Swiss Justice Ministry to reject his offer to put up his ski chalet in the tony resort of Gstaad as a guarantee. At the time, the ministry said the lack of a cash guarantee might not keep Mr. Polanski from attempting to flee the country. The ministry now has 10 days to appeal the court's decision, but a spokesman said it would make a decision much sooner.
Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said she saw "no reason" to appeal Mr. Polanski's release, the Associated Press and Swiss TV reported. The ministry had no further comment on the court's ruling. Mr. Polanski's lawyer in France had no immediate comment.
Mr. Polanski has been in a Swiss jail since police arrested him Sept. 25 upon his arrival in Zurich, where he was slated to receive an award at a film festival. He was arrested on a U.S. warrant issued in 1978 when he fled California after pleading guilty to having had sex with an underage girl. In late October, U.S. authorities filed a formal request for him to be extradited. The Swiss Justice Ministry is still processing that request, but is expected to make its decision within about a month, according a person familiar with the situation.
I hope he can hop on a helicopter and high-tail it to France!
Posted by: George | December 01, 2009 at 01:57 AM
me to. I'd love to see that. I'm sure the money is nothing to him...or the house.
since i doublt he would EVER return there again considering their underhanded trick in getting him there the first time.
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