Judge weighs extradition bid for Catalan ex-leader

BRUSSELS: A Belgian court will yesterday consider whether to send axed Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont back to Spain to face charges of rebellion and sedition over his region’s independence drive, reports AFP.

Madrid issued a European arrest warrant for Puigdemont and four of his former ministers after they fled to Brussels last month and ignored a summons to appear before a Spanish judge, claiming they would not get a fair trial.

A judge in Brussels will hear arguments behind closed doors from prosecutors and lawyers for the Catalan separatists over Spain’s extradition request in the first round of what could become a protracted courtroom battle, with both sides expected to appeal if they lose.

This could leave Puigdemont and his cadres still in Belgium when Catalonia goes to the polls on December 21 for an election ordered by Madrid to “restore normality” to the wealthy northeastern region.

 

Judge weighs extradition bid for Catalan ex-leader

BRUSSELS: A Belgian court will yesterday consider whether to send axed Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont back to Spain to face charges of rebellion and sedition over his regions independence drive, reports AFP. Madrid issued a European arrest warrant for Puigdemont and four of his former ministers after they fled to Brussels last month and ignored a summons to appear before a Spanish judge, claiming they would not get a fair trial. A judge in Brussels will hear arguments behind closed doors from prosecutors and lawyers for the Catalan separatists over Spains extradition request in the first round of what could become a protracted courtroom battle, with both sides expected to appeal if they lose. This could leave Puigdemont and his cadres still in Belgium when Catalonia goes to the polls on December 21 for an election ordered by Madrid to restore normality to the wealthy northeastern region.