In an interesting development, the Oscar winning director has been freed by the Swiss government, and is now free to go anywhere in the world where he will not be arrested .

Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlump refused to hand him over to the U.S government citing faults in the US extradition requests and the good faith which Polanski has travelled to Switzerland.

Polanski was arrested in Switzerland in September 2009 when he had arrived to receive a lifetime achievement award. Since then, he has been placed under house arrest in the Swiss town of Gstaad with an electronic bracelet to monitor his movements.  With the announcement of the judgment, the bracelet has been turned off and now he is free to exercise his own free will.

Polanski had pleaded guilty in the US for unlawfully raping a 13 year old girl in 1977. Since then, he has allegedly ran away from the US fearing a jail term of 50 years. .Outside Hollywood he has continued his film career and is known for masterpieces such as Rosemary’s Baby., China town, and the historic The Pianist which had won him the Oscar award for the Best Director