Spanish Supreme Court To Hear Only 12 Instead Of 18 Catalan Independence Leaders' Cases

MADRID (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th December, 2018) The Supreme Court of Spain confirmed on Thursday that it would hear cases of 12 instead of 18 politicians accused of uprising and embezzlement of state funds during the independence referendum in Catalonia, while the remaining six politicians' cases will be sent to the High Court of Justice of Catalonia.

The Supreme Court's statement read that among the cases to be heard are the ones of several members of the Cabinet of former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, including former Vice President and leader of the Republican Left of Catalonia political party Oriol Junqueras as well as Speaker of the Catalan Parliament Carme Forcadell. The cases of political activists Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart will be also heard by the Court.

The remaining six politicians' cases will be sent to the High Court of Justice of Catalonia, because they are only charged with civil disobedience. Among the suspects whose cases were sent to the local High Court are members of the Catalan parliament's presidium, as well as the former lawmaker from the Popular Unity Candidacy party, according to the Supreme Court's statement.

On December 18, the Supreme Court of Spain started hearing the case on illegal independence referendum in Catalonia.

Catalan prosecutors announced recommended sentences for the Catalan politicians in November. Junqueras may face the longest sentence of 25 years. Five members of Puigdemont's former government may be sentenced to 16 years, while the former chief of Catalonia's regional police, Josep Trapero, may face 11 years in prison.

On October 1, 2017, Catalonia held an independence vote, which resulted in over 90 percent of those who voted backing the region's autonomy. Madrid objected to the referendum and refused to recognize its results. On October 27 of the same year, the Catalan parliament declared independence, which prompted the Spanish government to dismiss the regional authorities and impose direct rule over Catalonia.