05-12-2009, 04:50 PM
Quote:Roman Polanski begins house arrest in Swiss chalet
Film director confined to property in Gstaad while Swiss authorities decide whether to extradite him to the US
Associated Press guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 December 2009 13.18 GMT Article
Roman Polanski today began his house arrest on $4.5m (£2.7m) bail, arriving in the Swiss resort of Gstaad in a police convoy.
The film director was welcomed by his wife, Emmanuelle Seigner, and his children, Elvis, nine, and 16-year-old Morgane, at his Alpine chalet.
He arrived in the resort after persuading the Swiss authorities to end his two-month spell in a Swiss prison pending their decision on whether to extradite him to the US in a 32-year-old sex case.
Two police cars went into the chalet's garage, which has direct access to the house.
Polanski was unseen behind tinted windows, but police confirmed to the Associated Press that he was in one of the vehicles.
"Roman Polanski was released from custody pending extradition and transferred to Gstaad, where he is under house arrest at his chalet," the Swiss justice ministry said.
"Polanski has undertaken not to leave his house and property at any time."
Police and private security officers were guarding the chalet.
The 76-year-old Polanski will not be allowed to leave the house while Switzerland decides whether to extradite him to the US for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. He will also have to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.
The Oscar-winning director of Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown and The Pianist has been in Swiss custody since being arrested on a US warrant in September as he arrived to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich film festival.
Authorities in Los Angeles want him returned to be sentenced after 31 years as a fugitive.
Polanski was initially accused of raping the girl after plying her with Champagne and a Quaalude pill during a modelling shoot.
He was indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molestation and sodomy, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.
In exchange, the judge agreed to drop the remaining charges and sent him to prison for a 90-day psychiatric evaluation.
The evaluator released him after 42 days, but the judge said he was going to send him back to serve the 90 days.
Polanski fled the US on 1 February 1978 – the day he was to have been formally sentenced. He has since lived in France, which does not extradite its citizens.
He claims the US judge and prosecutors acted improperly in his case. His lawyers will tell a California appeals court later this month that the charges should be dismissed.
Swiss officials say Polanski has transferred the bail and deposited all identification and travel documents with Zurich police. Bail will be forfeited should he violate the terms of his release.
Prosecutors and defence lawyers in the US declined to comment on Polanski being freed from prison.
"We're not going to be making any comments about Mr Polanski outside court while his extradition is pending in the Swiss courts," Sandi Gibbons, of the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/dec/...witzerland
"It means this War was never political at all, the politics was all theatre, all just to keep the people distracted...."
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war