Film director released on bail

Last update: Wed Nov 25 2009 18:05:05

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Film director released on bail

Wed Nov 25 2009 18:05:05

Roman Polanski could soon be a free man after a Swiss court approved his release on bail.

Mr Polanski was arrested in September at the request of the United States when he arrived in Switzerland to receive a lifetime achievement award at a film festival. He is currently fighting extradition to America over a 1970s child sex case.

The 76-year-old Oscar-winning director, pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977 but fled the US before he was sentenced.

Mr Polanski believed a judge might overrule a plea bargain and sentence him to 50 years in prison. He faces up to two years in prison if he is extradited, but if he does not agree to go voluntarily, the process could take many months or even years.

The court set his bail at 4.5 million Swiss francs and will keep Mr Polanski under house arrest with electronic monitoring.