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GENEVA – Roman Polanski’s bail of $4.5 M was approved by the Swiss Government Thursday. In turn Polanski will be placed under house arrest at his $1.6 million chalet in the Alps located in the exclusive resort of Gstaad.  In a recent statement, the Justice Ministry confirmed that Polanski will be transferred as soon as he posts bail.

Roman Polanski wins bail in Switzerland; remains under house arrest

Polanski’s chalet, named the “Milky Way”, is a beautiful chalet with a spectacular view of the surrounding Alps, including the pictureque Ruebli peak.

The court said Polanski would be subjected to “constant electronic surveillance” at his chalet and an alarm would be activated if he leaves the premises or takes off the bracelet.

“Polanski will be released from custody as soon as bail has been transferred, ID and travel documents have been lodged, and the electronic monitoring system has been installed and tested,” the statement said.

The bail does not affect the Justice Ministry’s pending decision on whether to extradite Polanski, 76, to the United States for having sex in Los Angeles in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl.

The bail decision was a major win for the Oscar winning director after a series of failed legal attempts to free him following his arrest on Sept. 26 when he arrived in Zurich to receive a lifetime achievement award.

Before Wednesday’s decision, Polanski offered a bank guarantee that would cause him to sacrifice his family’s home in Paris if he flees justice again.

“I am very happy and relieved,” Mathilde Seigner, Polanski’s sister-in-law told Le Parisien daily, adding that the director’s imprisonment had “enormous consequences on a psychological level” for his children. After Polanski’s release, “we’re going to drink a nice glass of Champagne and toast together,” she said.

According to the court, Polanski is still considered a high flight risk.

Reuters and AP contributed to this story.

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