Ex-Catalan minister granted bail by Scottish court in extradition case

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Former Catalan education minister Clara Ponsati, who is wanted in Spain on charges of rebellion for her role in Catalonia's independence campaign, was granted bail after appearing for an extradition hearing at a Scottish court on Wednesday.

Earlier, Ponsati, who is currently a professor at Scotland's prestigious University of St. Andrews, handed herself into police with her lawyer saying she would oppose extradition.

Ponsati and her lawyer were greeted by supporters waving the "estelada" Catalan independence flag outside the court.

Police stand by as supporters wave Catalan pro-independence flags and Scottish Saltire flags outside the court where former Catalan minister Clara Ponsati is due to appear after surrendering herself to arrest under a European Arrest Warrant in Edinburgh, March 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

"She does not believe that the Spanish courts can guarantee independence, human rights or justice," her lawyer said, reading a statement which also thanked Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's first minister who herself supports independence for Scotland from the United Kingdom.

"Scotland has been a true friend to Catalonia in her darkest hours," she said.

Several other Catalan senior officials, including the former head of the regional government, Carles Puigdemont, are being sought by the Spanish courts for their part in the referendum.

They said they will not get a fair trial in Spain.

(From left to right) Antoni Comin, former Catalan health minister, Roger Torrent, Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, former Catalan president, Meritxell Serret, former Catalan agriculture minister, Clara Ponsati, former Generalitat of Catalan education counselor, and Lluis Puig, former Catalan culture minister, sit around a table at the offices of the European Free Alliance in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 24, 2018. /VCG Photo

The Spanish government denied it is prosecuting the Catalan separatists for their political beliefs and says their actions violated the Spanish constitution.

Following the banned referendum in October and a subsequent declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dismissed the assembly and took direct control of the northwestern region.

German police arrested Puigdemont – who has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium – on Sunday and he is being held in prison pending an extradition hearing in a German court.

Source(s): Reuters