Swiss to wait for US before deciding on Polanski

Switzerland will decide on extraditing Roman Polanski after a California court rules whether he can be sentenced in his absence over a 33-year-old sex case.

The Justice Ministry said a decision on sending Polanski, currently under house arrest in the country, back to Los Angeles was still pending.

A spokesman said the “Justice Ministry will decide on the extradition only after the California Court of Appeal has decided whether to hold proceedings in absentia”.

Polanski’s lawyers say the 76-year-old has served his time and claim gross misconduct in the case.

Los Angeles prosecutors want Polanski to be returned to the United States.

Polanski fled the US in 1978 after admitting to having sex with a 13-year-old girl.