Swiss Court Releases Filmmaker Polanski on Bail

Polanski is being held in Switzerland over his 1977 US conviction for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl. Photo by BGNES

A Swiss court ruled Wednesday to release filmmaker Roman Polanski's from jail ahead of his possible extradition to the US, BBC reports.

Polanski, who holds dual French and Polish citizenship, was freed on USD 4,5 M bail. The court ruled he could stay at his chalet in the Swiss Alps and would be monitored by an electronic tag.

The Swiss Justice Ministry has 10 days to appeal against the court's decision, however, Justice Minister, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, is quoted as saying she saw no reason to appeal.

The ruling will not affect the Swiss government's continuing assessment of whether it should extradite Polanski to the US.

In October, Polanski lost his first appeal to be released on bail. At the time, Switzerland's highest criminal court backed an earlier government ruling that there was a high risk of Polanski fleeing the country if he was released.

Polanski, 76, has been wanted in the US since fleeing the country in 1978 after pleading guilty to having unlawful sex a year earlier with a 13-year-old girl.

He was held in Zurich after travelling from France in September.

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