Polanski at chalet for house arrest
Source: Agencies |
December 5, 2009, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ROMAN Polanski began his house arrest on US$4.5 million bail yesterday, rolling into the luxury resort of Gstaad, Switzerland, in a police convoy to a warm welcome from his wife and children at his Alpine chalet.
Polanski persuaded Swiss authorities to end his two months of incarceration in a Swiss jail pending their decision on whether to extradite him to the United States in a 32-year-old sex case.
Polanski's family had been waiting eagerly at the chalet, peeking out the windows to look for him as Swiss authorities worked out the last-minute details of his transfer. He has two children -- Elvis, 9, and Morgane, 16 -- with his wife, French actress Emmanuelle Seigner.
Just before 1pm, two police cars went straight into the garage, which has direct access to the house, then left 20 minutes later. Polanski, 76, was unseen behind the vehicles' tinted windows, but police said he was inside.
"Roman Polanski was today 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."
The director won't be allowed to leave the property while Switzerland decides whether to extradite him to the US for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
Swiss officials say Polanski transferred the bail and deposited all identification and travel documents with the Zurich cantonal police. His house in Gstaad was fitted with an electronic monitoring system that will trigger an alarm if Polanski leaves the house or removes the tagging bracelet.
Polanski was wearing the monitor around his ankle yesterday, said Folco Galli, spokesman for the Justice Ministry.
"As soon as he arrived, the electronic device was activated," he said, adding that Polanski was free to speak to the press if he wished. "But this is for him alone to decide."
An hour later, the Polanskis sent word to reporters that they had no intention of making a statement.
"Mr Polanski and his wife just asked us to say they are not coming out," said a security guard, who declined to give his name. "There is no point in waiting, so you can all leave."
Police in gray-and-blue jackets and private security guarded his property.
Polanski persuaded Swiss authorities to end his two months of incarceration in a Swiss jail pending their decision on whether to extradite him to the United States in a 32-year-old sex case.
Polanski's family had been waiting eagerly at the chalet, peeking out the windows to look for him as Swiss authorities worked out the last-minute details of his transfer. He has two children -- Elvis, 9, and Morgane, 16 -- with his wife, French actress Emmanuelle Seigner.
Just before 1pm, two police cars went straight into the garage, which has direct access to the house, then left 20 minutes later. Polanski, 76, was unseen behind the vehicles' tinted windows, but police said he was inside.
"Roman Polanski was today 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."
The director won't be allowed to leave the property while Switzerland decides whether to extradite him to the US for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
Swiss officials say Polanski transferred the bail and deposited all identification and travel documents with the Zurich cantonal police. His house in Gstaad was fitted with an electronic monitoring system that will trigger an alarm if Polanski leaves the house or removes the tagging bracelet.
Polanski was wearing the monitor around his ankle yesterday, said Folco Galli, spokesman for the Justice Ministry.
"As soon as he arrived, the electronic device was activated," he said, adding that Polanski was free to speak to the press if he wished. "But this is for him alone to decide."
An hour later, the Polanskis sent word to reporters that they had no intention of making a statement.
"Mr Polanski and his wife just asked us to say they are not coming out," said a security guard, who declined to give his name. "There is no point in waiting, so you can all leave."
Police in gray-and-blue jackets and private security guarded his property.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
