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Roman Polanski - Source: Reuters -
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Film director Roman Polanski was released on bail into house
arrest in his Swiss chalet, following his arrest after fleeing US
sentencing for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
A journalist saw Polanski in one of two cars which swept past some
200 waiting reporters and into the garage of Polanski's luxury home
in the upmarket ski resort of Gstaad.
"Roman Polanski was today released from custody pending extradition
and transferred to Gstaad, where he is under house arrest at his
chalet," the Swiss government said in a statement. "Polanski has
undertaken not to leave his house and property at any time."
Polanski was released from prison after posting $US4.5 million
bail, on condition he wore an electronic monitoring tag,
surrendered his identity and travel documents and did not leave his
house.
A police cordon kept media away from the snow-covered three-storey
house, in which Reuters journalists saw several people before
Polanski's arrival, despite thick white blinds blocking its
windows.
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 flew into Switzerland on September 26 to receive a
lifetime achievement prize at a film festival.
Extradition
Polanski was originally indicted on six charges, including rape,
for having sex after plying the girl with champagne and
drugs.
He pleaded guilty to having sex with the girl but fled the United
States on the eve of his 1978 sentencing because he believed a
judge might overrule his plea and put him in jail for 50
years.
The Swiss Justice Department is expected to decide on Polanski's
possible extradition within weeks but he could appeal, potentially
dragging out the dispute for months.
The filmmaker had been moved from a prison near Zurich to an
undisclosed location, ready for transfer to the exclusive resort,
which is also the winter home of French singer Johnny Halliday and
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
The small Alpine town has been popular with celebrities for decades
and was favoured by actor Audrey Hepburn, jazz singer Ella
Fitzgerald and wartime British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill.
Polanski's films include The Pianist in 2002 for which he won an
Academy Award, Rosemary's Baby, Repulsion and Knife in the
Water.
