Spain's Supreme Court orders arrest of former Catalan MP

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Europe

Spain's Supreme Court has called for the arrest of the former Catalan member of parliament Anna Gabriel after she failed to appear in court on Wednesday to answer charges related to the region's bid for independence.

Gabriel was called to appear in the Supreme Court on charges of sedition and rebellion surrounding her alleged part in Catalonia's illegal independence referendum and subsequent secession declaration in October.

On Tuesday, Gabriel said from Switzerland that she would not travel to Madrid to face the charges as she did not believe she would have a fair trial.

"I would have never come to Switzerland but the situation has forced me to. I would like to think this case will be shelved and I can return home," Gabriel also told Catalan television in an interview from Geneva on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court has not issued an international arrest warrant but the state's attorney has said it would adhere to the prosecutor's call to internationally pursue her detention.

A Swiss Federal Office of Justice spokesman said it would not grant extradition or legal assistance for any political offences, based on agreements between non-EU member Switzerland and Spain via the European Convention on Extradition, as well as the European Mutual Assistance Act, among other pacts governing cooperation.

Source(s): Reuters