Swiss justice official says bail for director Roman Polanski ‘not entirely excluded’

Swiss justice official: Bail for Polanski possible

ZURICH — The Swiss Justice Ministry says Roman Polanski could be released on bail under very strict conditions that he doesn’t flee Switzerland.

Spokesman Guido Balmer says such an arrangement is “not entirely excluded” under Swiss law and that Polanski can file a motion seeking his release on bail.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday in an interview with France-Inter radio that he hoped the 76-year-old director would be released.

Under Swiss law it seems an unlikely scenario unless Polanski agrees to forgo any challenge to his extradition to the United States for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl.

Polanski was arrested Saturday as he arrived in Zurich to receive an award at a film festival.