Roman Polanski will remain in prison after losing the first round of his plea to avoid extradition to the US for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
The Swiss Justice Ministry has denied the release of the director who has been locked in a Zurich cell for days. Polanski has been wanted by US authorities since fleeing his sentencing. He was charged with six felony counts, including sodomy, child molestation, and rape. Polanski was apprehended on 26 September during a film festival in Zurich. Authorities in the United States say that an international warrant for Polanski, who is considered to be a convicted felon and a fugitive, has been out since 2005.
Ministry spokesman Folco Galli said that the release of the filmmaker through bail or other measures can be very risky. “We continue to be of the opinion that there is a high risk of flight,” he said.
Polanski’s lawyers are pushing for his release and suggesting house arrest, but the Justice Ministry presented a letter opposing the appeal.
Former Zurich prosecutor Peter Cosandey said that he doesn’t remember any case “where a fugitive has been released on bail while awaiting extradition to a foreign country.”
“He could easily disappear,” Cosandey added. “He could just hop on a train to Germany. Coming by plane, you’re often just waived on. By car, it’s even easier.”
Washington has yet to file a request for extradition according to Galli who believes that the US sees the case as top priority.
Polanski will remain in prison for the duration of the case but Cosandey believes that Polanski’s lawyers might pledge bail as high as 1 million francs.
