Scotland: Former Catalan minister hands herself in

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – A former Catalan government minister has handed herself in to police in Edinburgh, Scotland under a European arrest warrant issued by Madrid.

Clara Ponsati, the ex-Catalan education minister, has faced charges of “violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds” over her role in a controversial referendum on Catalonia’s independence.

Under the arrest warrant, the Spanish government seeks the extradition of former Catalan leader and ministers.

The referendum took place under tense conditions on Oct. 1, despite calls to Catalan leaders from the central Madrid government to call it off.

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is in custody in Germany after being arrested under an international warrant.

He was travelling from Denmark to Belgium, where he has been living in self-imposed exile since last October.

A Spanish court last week reactivated a European arrest warrant against Puigdemont on charges of sedition and rebellion.

He led the parliamentary session that saw separatist lawmakers vote for the region of Catalonia to declare independence from Spain. He and 12 other separatist leaders were officially charged with rebellion.

Ponsati is due to appear at an initial extradition hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court later Wednesday.