Keep Bailing

The Roman Polanski roller-coaster keeps on moving. The famed director of “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby,” continues his battle to avoid U.S. extradition.  As of last weekend, Polanski’s French lawyers presented an even bigger cash bail offer for the release of the director.

With this new offer, Polanski and his attorney’s have requested the Swiss Court reverse the government decision which declines his bail all together. However, they continue to turn down his appeals, stating his flight risk is “still too high.”  Polanski still holds citizenship in both France and Poland.

The amount of the recent offer made to the Swiss Criminal Court was not made public, however the Justice Ministry reportedly stated the offer was turned down because it lacked the cash to ‘guarantee the transaction’ — even though, Polanski included several guarantees he would not flee if he was released.

To add a cherry-on-top, Polanski graciously offered collateral in the form of his Swiss ski resort chalet in Gstaad as part of the deal. Unfortunately, that didn’t hold any water as the offer was ‘not up to par’ with legal requirements. Legal experts in Switzerland state there is little hope he will be released without a strong cash guarantee.

Cut to December 10th, 2009 which is the date the California Second Court of Appeal will hear arguments which involve the 1977 dismissal of Polanski’s sexual assault charges. Polanski’s attorneys want the Los Angeles presiding judge to rule on their dismissal petition, without Mr. Polanski having to be present in court. 

Meanwhile, Polanski’s detention could last for months while he continues to make appeals to the Swiss Criminal and Supreme Courts against his U.S. extradition.

We’ll all have to hold on to our seats to find out how this ride will eventually play out for Mr. Polanski.