Roman Polanski raises bail

Dec 3, 2009, 9:06 GMT

Roman Polanski is expected be released from jail tomorrow (04.12.09).

The 76-year-old film director will be placed under house arrest at his chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland, where he will be made to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet until a decision is made whether he is extradited back to America over a conviction for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

Polanski - who was arrested in September while attending a film festival in Zurich - was granted bail last week but remained in custody until he paid the full amount of $4.5 million.

A spokeswoman from the justice ministry said: "He will be taken to Gstaad on Friday and will arrive by 2pm.

"The bail money has been deposited and there are a few administrative procedures left to do."

The £1,200 installation fee for the electronic monitoring and £120 monthly maintenance cost will be met by Polanski.

The filmmaker had had three previous bail attempts denied but authorities say they believe the high price he has posted will be enough to make him stick to the conditions of his house arrest.

In 1977, he pleaded guilty to charges of having underage sex with 13-year-old Samantha Gailey, now known as Samantha Geimer.

He believed he would face a jail term of just 42 days, and claimed a judge had reneged on a plea bargain deal to reduce the charges from rape and serious sexual assault if he admitted under-age sex. However, on the day of his sentencing he fled to London then Paris.

France does not have an extradition treaty to the US, so if he escaped over the boarder he would be safe.