Roman Polanski Makes Bail

By our guest blooger, Biondolillo

Controversial auteur Roman Polanski has just been granted bail in the amount of $4.5 million Swiss Francs by a Zurich court. Arrested on Sept. 26 on a 31-year-old U.S. warrant, Polanski is being held in Switzerland on statutory rape charges. The 76-year-old director is fighting extradition to the United States for sentencing in Los Angeles.

In 1977, Polanski was arrested for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl. During his trial, he fled the United States for Europe, where he has lived and worked ever since. A warrant for his arrest was issued in 1978, but Polanski was not actually arrested until just two months ago. Since then, the director has languished behind bars. If released on bail, Polanski could be released in a just a few days into house arrest at his Swiss chalet.

Although the Swiss Federal Crime court acknowledges that, given his history, Polanski is a high flight risk, they also believe he will not flee again. According to German newspaper Deutsche Welle, the Swiss Federal Crime has stated that "The court considers bail in the amount of 4.5 million Swiss francs offered by Polanski, together with supporting measures, as being sufficient to avert the risk of flight.”

Polanski’s lawyer, Herve Temime, argued for his bail by describing the stress the director’s imprisonment was causing his family. He said that Polanski’s wife and two children are extremely upset by this separation. Mr. Temime also stressed that Polanski’s incarceration could lead to significant financial loss for investors in Polanski’s latest film, “The Ghost,” which is due to premiere in February. The film is currently unfinished.

Polanski is perhaps best known for such films as "Rosemary's Baby," "Chinatown" and "Knife in the Water." His 2002 film, “The Pianist,” won multiple Academy Awards.

Sources:

LA Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2009/11/roman-polanski-makes-bail-poll.html.

Deutsche Welle: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4930119,00.html

Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1230901/Roman-Polanski-set-walk-free-hes-granted-2-7m-bail-Swiss-court.html