Spain’s Supreme Court on Monday sentenced nine of the 12 accused Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition over their roles in the region’s 2017 failed bid for independence.
The sentences were lower than demanded by the prosecution which had sought up to 25 years behind bars for former Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras.
The three other defendants in the landmark ruling were found guilty only of disobedience and not sentenced to prison. All defendants were acquitted of the most severe charge, rebellion.
A combo of 7 photos show (L to R): President of the Supreme Court, Manuel Marchena; the Public Prosecutor Antonio del Moral and the rest of magistrates of the ‘proces’ trial against Catalan pro-independence leaders: Luciano Varela, Juan Ramon Berdugo, Andres Palomo, Ana Derrer, Andres Martinez Arrieta. On 14 October 2019, Supreme Court has condemned Oriol Junqueras to 13 years in jail for sedition, Carme Forcadell to 11 years and half for sedition; Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez were sentenced to 9 years in hail for sedition; former regional Minister Jordi Turull, Raul Romeva and Dolors Bassa were sentenced to 12 years in jail for sedition and missapropriation, and Joaquin Forn and Josep Rull were condenmend 10 years an half for sedition. The three other defendants were absolved. EPA-EFE/FILES
The former head of Catalonia’s regional government Carles Puigdemont reacted sharply to the verdict, terming it an “atrocity.”
