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Roman Polanski - Source: Reuters -
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A Swiss court has announced it has approved the release of Roman Polanski on bail of 4.5 million Swiss francs while he fights extradition to the United States over a 1970s child sex case.
In a statement, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court said it considered an offer of 4.5 million Swiss francs' bail by Polanski, "together with supporting measures (deposit of identity papers, house arrest under electronic monitoring), as being sufficient to avert the risk of flight".
The court noted that the sum represented a substantial proportion of his wealth.
The Swiss Justice Ministry says Polanski will not be released immediately.
Switzerland's Justice Minister says she sees no reason to appeal
against the court's decision.
"I think Swiss Federal Criminal Court had it's good reasons. I see
no reason to appeal this decision," Justice Minister Eveline
Widmer-Schlumpf told the Swiss national broadcaster.
The 76-year-old Oscar-winning director, who holds dual French and Polish citizenship, was arrested at the request of the United States when he arrived in Switzerland on Sept. 26 to receive a lifetime achievement award at a film festival.
He pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977 but fled the US in 1978 before he was sentenced because he believed a judge might overrule a plea bargain and sentence him to 50 years in prison.
The French-born filmmaker faces up to two years in a US prison if he is extradited, but if he does not agree to go voluntarily, the process could take many months or even years.
His arrest triggered a political storm in France after Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand and prominent artists sprang to his defence.
Others argued that Polanski's status should not shield him from the law.
His films include The Pianist in 2002 for which he won an
Academy Award, Rosemary's Baby, Repulsion and Knife in the
Water.
