Polanski ‘will fight extradition’
Updated on 28 September 2009
Acclaimed film director Roman Polanski is to fight extradition to the United States on charges of having sex with an underage girl.
Polanski, 76, who has dual French and Polish citizenship, was arrested in Switzerland on Saturday.
He arrived in the country to collect a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival.
Herve Temime, Polanski's lawyer, told France Info radio: "He is in fighting mood and determined to defend himself."
Mr Temime said that Polanski was stunned as he was a regular visitor to the country.
Polanski was arrested in the United States in 1977 and charged with giving drugs and alcohol to a minor, Samantha Geimer, and having unlawful sex with her.
Geimer of Hawaii has since said Polanski should not be sent to prison.
The Swiss government has denied that the arrest was an attempt to repair relations after a US tax case against Swiss bank, UBS.
