Roman Polanski has lost his first bid for freedom, after a judge in Switzerland rejected an appeal that he should be released on bail. 76-year-old Polanski was arrested last week while on his way to a Swiss film festival, under an international warrant from the US, who want him back after he fled America in 1978, rather than been being jailed for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.
The judge felt that the risks were too great for the Swiss government to accept bail or other security measures. All Polanski would have to do to escape both the Swiss and US authorities would be to get back across the border into France. As the whole case stems from the fact that he’s previously fled the US authorities, it’s not surprising that he hasn’t been granted bail.
The Pianist and Rosemary’s Baby filmmaker is now planning to fight his extradition to the US, although many feel it will be hard for Polanski to win his case as long as the Swiss authorities follow all the procedures correctly. However the system of appeals means it could be serveral months until we definitely know whether Polanski will be sent to America or not.