Belgian judge grants conditional release to sacked Catalonia leader, 4 ministers

Hours after sacked Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont and four other associates turned themselves in to police, a Belgian judge has granted them all conditional release after Spain issued a European arrest warrant for their arrest over charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds.

According to Belgian prosecutors, the group is scheduled to appear at court within 15 days and they are all barred from leaving Belgium without the judge’s consent.

Read also: After arrest warrant, Catalan leader, 4 others turn themselves in to police in Belgium

“The next step in the proceedings is the appearance of the five defendants before the Chambre du Conseil within the next 15 days,” prosecutors said in a statement.
A warrant was issued for their arrest after they failed to appear before a high court in Span to answer for rebellion and sedition charges.

The arrest warrant issued by Judge Carmen Lamela which also added two more charges, prevarication (lying) and disobedience, was reportedly issued on the grounds that it is public knowledge that Puigdemont is in Belgium.

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