Bern rejects US extradition request,says Polanski free

Nine months after arresting Polanski,the Justice Ministry said US officials should have backed up their request by providing confidential testimony about Polanskis sentencing procedure in LA.

Polanski can now move freely, Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said. Hes a free man.

The stunning decision could end the USs long pursuit of Polanski. France,where he has spent much of his time,does not extradite its own citizens and Polanski has had little trouble traveling throughout Europe. Polanski will remain a fugitive in the US unless American authorities move to drop the extradition request. They cannot appeal the Swiss decision.

The Swiss decision was praised by senior government officials in France and Poland,where he holds dual citizenship. But there was criticism from groups representing victims of sexual abuse.

The Oscar-winning director of Rosemary’s Baby and The Pianist was accused of plying his victim with champagne and part of a Quaalude during a 1977 modeling shoot and raping her.

Polanskis electric monitoring bracelet was removed,the government said,but it was unclear if he had left the confines of his chalet in Gstaad for the first time since being placed under house arrest in December on 4.5 million bail.

A woman who answered the door said Polanski had left. The directors lawyer,Herve Temime,said that his client was still at his chalet but was now ready to enjoy his freedom.