Switzerland launches new probe into WikiLeaks banker

Prosecutors in Switzerland have opened a new criminal investigation against a Swiss banker who claims to have handed details of rich tax cheats to WikiLeaks.

Rudolf Elmer was arrested for questioning late yesterday, Zurich chief prosecutor Peter Pellegrini said.

The new investigation centres on Mr Elmer’s trip to London on Monday at which he gave two data CDs to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

It is unclear if Mr Elmer is still being detained or if he has been released again.

The arrest came shortly after Mr Elmer was found guilty by a Zurich court yesterday of coercion and breaking Switzerland’s strict bank secrecy laws in an earlier case.

A judge sentenced him to a fine of more than 6,000 Swiss francs (€4,600), payable if he offends again in the next two years.