Latest: Spanish supreme court will rule on Monday on release bid by Catalan separatists

A Spanish Supreme Court judge will decide on Monday if two Catalan pro-independence activists and eight former members of the separatist regional cabinet ousted over a month ago should be released from custody.

Latest: Spanish supreme court will rule on Monday on release bid by Catalan separatists

Update 3.27pm: A Spanish Supreme Court judge will decide on Monday if two Catalan pro-independence activists and eight former members of the separatist regional cabinet ousted over a month ago should be released from custody.

The 10 requested today's court appearance to pledge lawful behaviour and renounce unilateral independence efforts in the hope of being released.

Spanish national police officers stand guard as a police van arrives at the Supreme Court in Madrid today. Pic: AP Photo/Francisco Seco
Spanish national police officers stand guard as a police van arrives at the Supreme Court in Madrid today. Pic: AP Photo/Francisco Seco

Most of them are running in an early regional election this month that Spanish central authorities called after they took control of Catalonia in response to the regional legislators' declaration of independence.

Official campaigning begins at midnight on Monday.

Spain also dismissed the regional government as part of unprecedented measures to rein in the country's deepest political crisis in nearly four decades of democratic rule.

The lower National Court provisionally jailed the 10 Catalans while magistrates probe their roles in relation to the secession bid.

The politicians, including former regional vice president Oriol Junqueras, face possible charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement that can be punished with decades in prison.

They were among the leading figures involved in events that crystallised in the October 27 independence vote.

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four ex-ministers are fighting extradition from Belgium over similar charges.

"We want you at home. You must leave the jail because you should have never entered it. Do whatever is necessary to come out. We have a lot to do," wrote Mr Puigdemont in a tweet on Friday.

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont
Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont

Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, the two leaders of grassroots separatist groups Assemblea Nacional Catalana and Omnium Cultural respectively, are accused of sedition for their roles in protests in Barcelona that hindered a judicial investigation into preparations for an independence referendum on October 1.

After the proceedings, the 10 were sent back to jails around Madrid where they will wait for magistrate Pablo Llarena's decision on Monday.

The public prosecutor and plaintiffs from a small right-wing political party asked the judge to uphold the custody order because their evidence, they said separately, failed to eliminate the risk of fleeing or the repetition of the crimes in the near future.

Defence lawyer Jordi Pina, who represents two of the former Catalan officials and Mr Sanchez, said he hoped for an early release after they pledged to abide by Spain's constitution, which enshrines the nation's indivisibility.

Supporters and party aides of the defendants gathered outside the court in central Madrid. Some of them said money had been raised to make immediate payments if the judge had decided to release them on bail.

Joining them was former Catalan regional president Artur Mas, a key figure in Catalonia's independence movement since 2012.

Speaking to reporters, he said he understood the defence strategy, but criticised the central government's decision to take control of the region.

"Anybody who is in jail unjustly has all the right in the world to develop any argument that leads to freedom," Mr Mas said.

Preliminary polls are predicting a close race between candidates for and against independence in the December 21 regional election, but they also show that any winner will need to negotiate support to form a new government.

AP

Update 11.22am: A Spanish Supreme Court judge is reviewing detention orders against two Catalan pro-independence activists and eight former members of the separatist regional cabinet ousted over a month ago.

The 10 requested the court appearance to pledge lawful behaviour and renounce unilateral independence efforts in the hope of being released.

Most of them are running in the December 21 regional election Spanish central authorities called after they took control of Catalonia in response to the regional legislators’ declaration of independence in late October.

Spain also sacked the regional government as part of unprecedented measures to rein in the country’s deepest political crisis in nearly four decades of democratic rule.

The lower National Court provisionally jailed the 10 while magistrates probe their roles in the secession bid.

The eight politicians, including former regional vice president Oriol Junqueras, face possible charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement that can be punished with decades in prison.

They were among the leading figures involved in events that crystalised in an independence declaration by the Catalan parliament in late October.

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four ex-ministers are fighting extradition from Belgium over similar charges.

"We want you at home. You must leave the jail because you should have never entered it. Do whatever is necessary to come out. We have a lot to do," wrote Mr Puigdemont in a tweet today.

Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, the two leaders of grassroots separatist groups Assemblea Nacional Catalana and Omnium Cultural respectively, are accused of sedition for their roles in protests in Barcelona that hindered a judicial investigation into preparations for an independence referendum on October 1.

Supreme Court magistrate Pablo Llarena is due to decide whether to release the group or uphold the provisional jailing after they testify individually.

Activist supporters and party aides of the defendants said money had been raised to make immediate payments if the judge sets bail for their release.

AP

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