Polanski challenges Swiss detention

OSCAR-WINNING director Roman Polanski yesterday challenged his detention in Switzerland over a 32-year-old child sex case in the United States, as leading Hollywood figures rallied to his cause.

The top Swiss criminal court confirmed that Polanski, 76 had lodged a formal complaint against his arrest at Zurich airport pending a US extradition request.

“The second court of complaints of the Federal Criminal Tribunal confirms that it has received today a complaint by Roman Polanski against the arrest warrant for extradition,” the Swiss tribunal said in a statement.