Spain's Prosecutor Requests Court To Suspend 5 Jailed Catalan Lawmakers From Public Office

MADRID (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) The Spanish Prosecutor's Office submitted a request on Wednesday to the country's Supreme Court to immediately suspend the five pro-Catalan independence lawmakers currently incarcerated on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds from holding public office.

The Spanish government is investigating Jordi Sanchez, Jordi Turull, Josep Rull, Oriol Junqueras and Raul Romeva to determine their involvement in the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, which Madrid did not give permission to hold.

The prosecutor requested that the Spanish Supreme Court, which is currently handing the investigation, recommend to the parliament the lawmakers' immediate suspension from holding public office, citing Article 384 of the constitution, which states that any person indited for rebellion is automatically barred from performing such duties.

The five lawmakers, which include four members the lower house and one from the upper house, were voted into office during the country's snap April 28 general elections. On Tuesday, the five prisoners were sworn in under the supervision of Spanish law enforcement.

Catalonia is a semi-autonomous region in northeast Spain with a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years. Catalonia also has its own police force and controls some of its public services. It is a wealthy region and much of its claim to independence is based on its discontent with having its money controlled by the Spanish government through taxes.