Polanski heads for house arrest

GSTAAD, Switzerland (AP) — Roman Polanski (photo) is expected to trade the confines of a Swiss jail this week for house arrest in a luxury chalet with a view of the Alps, where he will await a Swiss decision whether to extradite him to the US.

His three-story stucco and wood home on the edge of Gstaad has its own garden. He’ll be allowed to host parties. A local official has said he may move to protect the film director from the press.

The biggest drawback for Polanski will be that he will be unable to leave the 1,800-square-meter (19,000-square-foot) property without losing $4.5-M in bail.

“He will have no prison regime,” said Justice Ministry spokesman Falco Galli. “He is completely free to determine his daily schedule. It’s also up to him to get in food and other supplies.”

Swiss officials say they still think there is a high risk Polanski will try to flee, even though he will be wearing an electronic monitoring device that will detect any attempt to leave the property.

The arrival of the bail money in Switzerland appeared to be the main remaining obstacle to the transfer from prison.

No special police protection will be provided, either to make sure Polanski remains or to keep spectators and others away, Galli said. He said Polanski could call the local police or a security firm if he feels threatened.