Polanski's posh Swiss chalet being prepped for director's release from prison

It appears officials are preparing Roman Polanski's Swiss chalet for the director's release from prison under electronic monitoring.

Polanski is expected to be freed by Monday after a Swiss court agreed to $4.5-million bail. A court will eventually rule whether Polanski should be extradited to Los Angeles to face sentencing for having illegal sex with a 13-year-old more than three decades ago. Swiss justice officials repeatedly had denied his bail requests, saying he is a flight risk.

Under the terms of the bail, Polanski, 76, would be restricted to his chalet in Gstaad, a ski resort with mountain views. The village of 2,500 has long been known as a celebrity hangout, having been home to Elizabeth Taylor, Roger Moore and David Niven, among others. 

An Associated Press reporter went to the chalet, which appeared to be filled with activity:

Security experts on Saturday started preparing Roman Polanski's Alpine chalet for the movie director's house arrest while Swiss authorities consider whether to extradite him to the United States.

A Hummer bearing the sign in French "DR Securite Services" was parked outside the empty three-story building Saturday morning, while three men and a woman took photographs of the property and spent about an hour inside.

They declined to say what they were doing, but the company handles a range of services from video surveillance to alarm installations and armored doors.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Roman Polanski's chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland, where the 76-year-old director would be restricted. Credit: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[whatanervehehas]

Wrath of God would fall on him some day one way or another even though he barely could escape from worse situation this time because of his wealth, reputation as an excellent filmmaker and his ardent supporters.

[Ed]

Chalet preparations:

Diamond-tip saw required to remove the monitoring bracelet? Check.

Hidden escape path through maids quarters? Check.

Fake plumbing van with stolen plates? Check.

Seven figure bribe to unknown Swiss official? Check.

[El Guapo de la cuidad de Los Angeles]

Ski in and ski out in his Alpine paradise.

[Samael]

He'll probably have a posh party to celebrate his victory over justice!

[Keith Richard Radford Jr]

Don't trust this arrangement, I was told I could walk in and walk out, it was a lie, so I laid in a solitary cell for days. Someone needs to stand "up" against putting more money in the human meat grinder we call society policies used to control from the top down when the top is owned by the bottom and the control is a bit more family owned than we understand and have been.
So what is the use of such laws as the sex offender registry other than to terrorize people? With the murder of so many sex offenders and the continued disregard for life by the use of the registry it will be no time at all before the federal government will be held liable for their deaths through federal court. There are ridiculous laws built for people unaware of what they do because of these misconceptions and fear creating an environment of mistrust where life has no meaning for both side of an issue that is made important by the same people who enjoy watching/participating in the torture/suffering of both sides for what touching someone? Who is really the terrorist since these laws connect?

[Vidal Demonti]

Keith Richard Radford Jr. - that makes a lot of sense!

[Joe]

I guess Califonria does not want him. The Swiss have been doing all the work; guess they decided if California does not want him why should they hold him. There has been weeks and weeks. This shows that if you have money and influence you can buy justice in the US. Just another sad commentary where are society is heading....

[heymikey]

Polanski would never move into a "posh ski chalet" if he ever expected to be extradited to the U.S. Think of the P.R. blunder if Polanski were to present himself for sentencing in L.A., fresh from the slopes of Gstaad. Any judge would love to tell Polanski that he won't be sipping cocoa where he's going. If Polanski really expected to be extradited, his lawyers would have left him where he is, and his publicists would have filled the U.S. media with tales of harsh Swiss prison conditions. Therefore, either Polanski expects to flee again, or the fix is in.

[Bob in Santa Monica]

"I guess Califonria does not want him. The Swiss have been doing all the work; guess they decided if California does not want him why should they hold him." What? Why do you think he was arrested in the first place. LA County has asked for him to be sent back. He's appealing thaat in the Swiss courts, where he was arrested at our request? Have you read anything?

[Tara]

@keith richard, put the pipe down. RP didn't just 'touch someone' he had sex with a minor. i know that seems like no big deal for people who comes from cultures where the age of 'consent' is 12, but in the U.S. it's called child molestation and sexual abuse and it's a FELONY.

[Carl of Arcadia]

There is a reason why Polanski fled the United States on the eve of his sentencing day, why is that fact always ignored whenever a summary of the event is mentioned.

[abby]

Once again the rich get away with committing crimes....

I'm sick of the 2-tiered justice system -- the one for the rich where they can do anything and get away with it -- and the one for everyone else where they do the crime and do the time.....

[B Gibbon]

ENJOY THE MOUNTAIN AIR ROMAN POLANSKI -I HOPE YOU ARE COMPLETELY FREE SOON!!!!

THREE GENERATIONS MURDERED AND TWO GENERATIONS - MURDERED BY CALIFORNIA'S FINEST.

THEN THE CALIFORNIA JUSTICE WANTS TO THROW THE BOOK AT THE MAN FOR HAVING CONSENSUAL SEX - AFTER THREE GENERATIONS OF POLANSKI'S FAMILY HAVE BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED

TALK ABOUT DISCRIMINATION AND A LACK OF COMPASSION FOR ROMAN POLANSKI.

THE NON AMERICAN POLANSKI MUST WALK ON EGG SHELLS IN CALIFORNIA -

AND IT IS BETTER NO SEX FOR POLANSKI IN CALIFORNIA SINCE THE ATTRACTIVE TEENAGE GIRL HOISTED ON HIM BY HER STARRY EYED MOTHER - MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE UNDERAGE

TWO THUMBS DOWN TO CALIFORNIA INJUSTICE AGAINST POLANSKI

IT IS NOT TRUE THAT POLANSKI HAS BEEN TREATED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE - HE NEVER HAS BEEN AND HE NEVER WILL BE

WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE OR TOO MUCH KNIFE IN THE WATER

[heh]

"If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate."

Additionally, if you are exactly 13 years of age you may get raped by Roman Polanksi.

[Douglas]

Keith: well said. America is obsessed with sex and so we have these crazy, barbaric laws that serve no purpose other than to terrorize the public and waste our tax dollars on witch hunts.

As for Polanski, let him go; he's already paid his dues.

[joe]

Pretty nice digs for a confessed rapist.

[ihh]

True. No one escapes God's good justice. We may be unequal in life, but in death, we are all the same. We must all answer to the Creator one day.

[alex p]

LEAVE THE POOR MAN ALONE HE HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH