26 Nov 2009

Polanski granted bail of $5.8 million

6:40 pm on 26 November 2009

A Swiss court has accepted film-maker Roman Polanski's plea to be freed on bail - of nearly $6 million.

Mr Polanski has been wanted in the US since fleeing the country in 1978 after pleading guilty to having unlawful sex a year earlier with a 13-year-old girl.

He was detained in Zurich in September, after travelling from France to collect an award at the city's film festival, pending extradition to the United States.

The court said his offer of $US4.5 million ($NZ5.8 million) in bail, together with the surrender of his passport, was sufficient to allay concerns he might abscond.

He will live under house arrest in his home in the resort of Gstaad.

Switzerland's Minister of Justice says she sees no reason to appeal against the court's decision.