Roman Polanski has been denied release on bail for a second time, with a Swiss judge not quite buying the director's pledge to remain in the country while awaiting the outcome of extradition appeals against the United States. The ruling likely didn't surprise many folks close to the case -- least of all Polanski, who still is being treated for an unknown ailment at an unknown facility for an unknown amount of time. And according to reports, the decision calls for some significant stakes-raising on the director's side.
After the "I promise not to leave Switzerland -- snicker -- no, your Honor, seriously, you gotta let me out" strategy bombed with the Swiss justice ministry earlier this month, Polanski and Co. put the director's country home up as collateral against his flight back to France. He'd even stay there under electronic monitoring, he said. That wasn't enough assurance for the latest judge, who ruled that even he knows how easy it is to get across the Swiss border and didn't want to be on the hook for Polanski's next (and presumably final) fugitive episode.
Attorneys also argued that Polanski faces significant claims against him if he can't complete his new film The Ghost on schedule -- which didn't impress anyone, especially after screenwriter already told the press Polanski would finish the film from behind bars if he had to. Next up: Another appeal to the justice ministry, along with "stronger guarantees" that the director will stay in Switzerland if he's released on bail. Nobody quite knows what that could mean (Work-release as a seasonal ski groomer? Posting Emmanuelle Seigner as bail?), but we'll all find out soon enough.
ยท Swiss court rejects Polanski bid for release [Reuters]