Roman Polanski Bail Set at $4.5 Million

(CBS/AP)  A Swiss court has approved Roman Polanski's bail offer of $4.5 million to be released from prison and kept under house arrest and electronic monitoring at his Swiss chalet.

But the Swiss Justice Ministry says it will keep Polanski in jail until it decides whether to appeal his release to the country's supreme court.

Spokesman Folco Galli says the ministry will make its decision "quickly," even though it has 10 days to appeal.

The Swiss Criminal Court still considers Polanski a high flight risk. Its ruling Wednesday said the new bail offer was significant enough to offset those concerns.

The decision does not affect the Swiss government's ongoing assessment of whether it should extradite Polanski to the U.S. for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl.

"The key here is house arrest and electronic monitoring, which would put a crimp in his plans to flee the jurisdiction. And remember, under Swiss law, Polanski hasn't committed a crime," said CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen.

"He's being released from prison but not from confinement and not from the country and if he tries to skip out now he'll have both Swiss and U.S. officials trying to track him down," Cohen said.

"I am sure we will see an appeal here, and a strong request by American officials for a reversal of this decision. But ultimately it's a matter for the Swiss courts and Swiss law," Cohen added.

[galbraith45]

keep the creep in jail he's been molesting children in Europe for 30 years

[SocietysNightmare]

Polanski will probably NEVER do time for this offense people. Get over it! It was 22 years ago & even the victim advocates not prosecuting Polanski. So please put your desire for Revenge in the name of Justice in your back pocket until the next case comes along.

[novamba]

the victim does not get to decide what happens to this disgusting creep. There is no statute of limitations on drugging and raping a child, and if he really wants to put this behind him he needs to face the music...I hope he gets the Jeffrey Dahmer tratment when he gets convicted.

[rbichamp]

So the rich can pay off the victims and avoid jail? Is that OK?

The crazy far left liberals are such hypocrites!

[lin1945-2009]

If Polanski jumps bail . . . who gets the bail? The Swiss government, most likely. It is a bonus for all they have gone through dealing with Polanski but it is truly a slap in the face of justice, of the United States and of the victim. What a disappointment that the Swiss court could be bought . . . they sold out the U.S. Shame on them. Four and a half million dollars might be small change to Polanski unless one knows his true wealth. If he is only worth $5 million, total, than $4.5 million is considerable. But, as believed, he is worth more than fifty million it is less than 10% of his wealth. I am guessing he will be back in France for Christmas . . . a bracelet only works when you have officials close-by to stop him fleeing. How many officials are at the ready near his Swiss chalet in a resort area? Bad decision, for sure. The Swiss Court disappoints.

[kerry4ever]

Money talks, Polanski walks!

[mtcolquitt]

Money talks!

[maddymappo]

Very dumb move. He can hire a helicopter and scram, and he will once again thumb his nose at the laws of the US to the great pleasure of his perverted colleague directors.