Sarkozy calls Leuthard over Polanski

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has telephoned his Swiss counterpart Doris Leuthard for an update on the situation of French-Polish director Roman Polanski.

In addition to the extradition request for Polanski, the two discussed Leuthard’s visit to Paris, planned for the second half of June, according to a statement from the economics ministry on Friday.

On May 11 a United States judge rejected a request by Polanski’s lawyers to open sealed testimony which they hoped would help their fight against his extradition.

Polanski was taken into custody on September 26, 2009, in Zurich under an international arrest warrant. The 76-year-old is wanted in Los Angeles for sentencing in a child-sex case that began in 1977.

A California judge has denied a request to sentence Polanski in absentia, clearing the way for him to be returned to the US. Swiss officials have been waiting for the California proceedings to end before moving the case forward themselves.

Meanhwile, British actress Charlotte Lewis has claimed she was sexually abused by Polanski in 1982.

Polanski’s lawyer rejected the allegation as “a mere lie” and an attempt to blackmail his client.

swissinfo.ch and agencies