ROMAN POLANSKI - POLANSKI REFUSED JAIL RELEASE

POLANSKI REFUSED JAIL RELEASE

Incarcerated director ROMAN POLANSKI has lost his bid for freedom after the Swiss Justice Ministry denied his appeal for release.
The Chinatown filmmaker has been behind bars in Zurich, Switzerland since 26 September (09), when he was arrested in connection to a 1977 child sex crime.
He is currently fighting extradition to the U.S. to face sentencing for having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor - a charge he pleaded guilty to before fleeing to France in 1978.
Polanski's lawyers argue U.S. authorities' attempts to fly the star back to America to face punishment are illegal.
But their request for the Swiss Justice Ministry to release him until an official decision is made on the extradition was rejected on Tuesday (06Oct09) - because he is deemed to be a flight risk.
Swiss ministry spokesman Folco Galli says, "We continue to be of the opinion that there is a high risk of flight."
Galli admits U.S. officials have yet to formally request Polanski's extradition, but he's adamant it's only a matter of time.
He adds, "I assume this is a priority case in the United States."