The Swiss Criminal Court granted Roman Polanski a $4.5 million bail, giving light to the director’s appeal to move from a Swiss jail to his Alpine resort chalet where he will be subjected to electronic monitoring and house arrest.
The justice minister will not appeal the decision made by the Swiss court. Authorities, meanwhile, are still assessing whether to extradite the director to the US after being charged with unlawful sex with a 13-year-old in 1977.
The final decision of transferring Polanski to his chalet in Gstaad will be made “quickly”, according to Ministry spokesman Folco Galli.
“The 76-year-old appellant is married and the father of two minors,” the court said after making the decision to consider the cash bail. “It can be assumed that as a responsible father he will, especially in view of his advanced age, attach greater importance to the financial security of his family than a younger person.”
The court added that Polanski will be under “constant electronic surveillance”, while at his chalet. If he leaves the area or removes the bracelet, an alarm will be activated, making it tough for him to fly out of the premises.
It was a surprising decision as previous attempts at bail were not granted according to Swiss legal experts. Authorities in the US also predicted that the Swiss court will not release the filmmaker.
Polanski’s first bail offer of his chalet as collateral was denied last month. The Swiss court opted for cash.
“Cash is king,” said former Zurich prosecutor Peter Cosandey. He added that he could “hardly remember a case where bail is granted to someone who isn’t even a full-time Swiss resident.”
