The judge sends the former independence government of Catalonia to prison

USPA NEWS - The judge of the National Court Carmen Lamela sent to prison the vice president of the regional government of Catalonia, Oriol Junqueras, and seven former councilors, for the risk of flight and the criminal reiteration of the accused in relation to the declaration of independence of Catalonia. Only the former Business Counselor, Santi Vila, was released from jail, upon payment of a deposit of 50,000 Euros ($58,277.47), for having resigned before the declaration of independence and having expressed his opposition to the Catalan secession.

The eight former Catalan leaders sent to prison left the National Court in police vans shortly after 6:30 p.m. in Spain (12:30 p.m. ECT). All of them had arrived at the Court in the early hours of the morning to testify in relation to the unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia, and refused to answer the judge's questions. The only one who responded to the magistrate was the former Business Councilor, Santi Vila, who appeared assisted by his own defense lawyer, not accepting the defense shared with the other former members of the regional government of Catalonia.

On Thursday they were also summoned to declare the former Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, and four other former councilors, who fled to Belgium to escape Justice and did not show up to testify. Judge Carmen Lamela issued European arrest warrants against the five pro-independence politicians, who are now in the hands of the Belgian judges to decide if they are extradited to Spain. The process to decide its delivery to the Spanish Justice can be delayed two months, since the Belgian judge will have to consult the ex- Catalan president and councilors if they are against its delivery and to decide later if it stops them or leaves them in freedom.

The escape of Puigdemont and the four former councilors has harmed the other former members of the Catalan government, since the judge has taken into account the risk of contagion and the seriousness of the crimes supposedly committed by the defendants. As soon as the decision of the judge to imprison the former vice president and the seven former councilors of the regional government of Catalonia was known, in Barcelona citizen groups were formed for and against the decision of the Court.

The Bureau of the Parliament, day 9

Also this Thursday, in the Supreme Court, were cited to declare the president of the regional Parliament, Carmen Forcadell, and five members of the House Bureau. His appearance was postponed until next Thursday, November 9, after requesting defense attorneys time to prepare their legal strategy. Judge Pablo Llarena imposed the six parliamentarians, all of them members of the Permanent Deputation of the Chamber and, therefore, measured, police surveillance that will be carried out through home control and telephone contact of all of them.