On Friday, Roman Polanski left his jail cell and began living in a luxurious, three-story chalet in the Swiss Alps.
The Swiss government allowed Polanski to continue his detainment in a style to which the 76-year-old director is more accustomed, after he posted $4.5 million bail. If he breaks the terms of his house (or mansion) arrest, he will forfeit all of the cash.
Polanski’s wife Emmanuelle Seigner and his two children Elvis, 9, and Morgane, 16, were waiting for him when he arrived at the home in the resort Swiss town of Gstaad.
Though on house arrest, he is free to have overnight guests, order catered meals, and even hold parties. He is free to do as he pleases, he simply cannot leave the grounds of the chalet.
Polanski has been in jail since September, when Swiss police arrested him while on his way to a Zurich film festival, at which he was to be given the Golden Icon Award.
For 31 years, he was very careful not to travel to countries that have an extradition treaty with the U.S. There were both outstanding U.S. and international warrants for his arrest.
On March 10, 1977, Polanski picked up a 13-year-old girl and drove her to the home of Jack Nicholson, for a supposed photo shoot. Nicholson was away at the time.
Polanski gave her champagne and a Quaalude, and the two, both naked, got into the hot tub together.
Polanski was 44-years-old at the time of the rape. He was charged with furnishing a controlled substance to a minor, lewd or lascivious act on a child under 14, unlawful sexual intercourse with a female under the age of 18, rape by use of drugs, and sodomy.
Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor but fled the country in 1978, prior to sentencing. He had been living in France, until his arrest.
Comments
Again, this article about Polanski, is an example of poor journalism in the Examiner. It seems to be written by someone who did no research and does not have any information about the story. Sorry to say but Mr Dave Gibson does not seem to have spent more than 3 minutes researching the topic he wrote about.
Steve-why slander Mr Gibson, give us the lowdown; Why did has this scummy little midget been treated like a god?
Steve, absolutely right on your comments ! Dave Gibson should do more research before repeating (with an unnecessary time lag) other articles. First, Polanski owns neither a house nor a mansion in Gstaad, but a chalet as it is called. Second, his son Elvis is 11 years old and not 9. Third, for 32 years, he travelled freely to Switzerland, which has an extradition treaty with the US. Finally, you seem to have omitted that he wears an electronic bracelet, so he can't walk freely in his chalet and cannot do as he pleases.
Also Dave, I advise you to smile in your future pictures. You look more like child rapist than Polanski.
How Pathetic,They (Swiss)are busy banning Minarets,on the other hand protecting child molester / RAPIST!
Why isn't he in JAIL? I guess we're lucky he didn't run off to isntreil.....
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