Swiss to decide soon on Roman Polanski extradition

Swiss officials say they will decide soon whether to extradite Roman Polanski to the United States to face prosecution in a 1977 sex case, according to The Associated Press.

Justice Ministry spokesman Folco Galli says "it won't be long" before a decision on the extradition request. He declined to be more specific.

The director fled the United States on Feb. 1, 1978, the day he was to be formally sentenced for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

He was arrested on Sept. 26 as he came to receive a lifetime achievement award at a Zurich film festival. He has been under house arrest at his chalet in the resort of Gstaad since December, when he was released on $4.5 million bail.

Polanski, now 76, would be allowed to appeal extradition.