romanfreeonbail.jpgRoman Polanski was released from custody on $4.5 million bail, and the director has been transferred to house arrest at Gstaad, a lux ski resort in Switzerland.

A crowd of 200 journalists and photographers surrounded Polanski’s “Milky Way” chalet this morning, and when he arrived at the cottage, he drove into an underground garage, declining to talk to reporters.

In a statement, the Swiss government said:
    “Roman Polanski was today released from custody pending extradition and transferred to Gstaad, where he is under house arrest at his chalet. Polanski has undertaken not to leave his house and property at any time.”


Folco Galli, a Justice Ministry spokesman told the NY Times that Polanski will be restricted to the house and grounds of his chalet but is free to receive visitors and “whether he wants to show himself or hide in the chalet is up to him."

The Polanski case is still pending a judicial ruling on an American request for his extradition, as he is still wanted on charges of raping a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Polanski’s lawyers plan to oppose the extradition request, and Galli said the decision would take “some weeks.”