Polanski requests to be sentenced outside the U.S.

Lawyers for Roman Polanski have launched a legal bid to have the director sentenced while he resides in Switzerland.

The Rosemary's Baby director is battling extradition to the U.S. to face sentencing over a 1977 child sex charge. He pleaded guilty to bedding a 13-year-old girl but fled to France before he could be sentenced.

He was detained in Zurich in September (09) and kept behind bars until he was released in December (09) to live under house arrest at a ski chalet in Switzerland.

Officials acting for Polanski have now filed papers asking for him be sentenced "in absentia" - despite Los Angeles prosecutors repeatedly stating that he can only be sentenced if he returns to the U.S. in person.

L.A. Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza has scheduled a hearing for 22 January (10) to consider the request, according to the Associated Press.

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