Catalan politicians detained in Brussels before meeting with court investigator
The former head of the ousted government of Catalonia Carles Pokdemon and his four supporters were taken into custody at least 24 hours before the subsequent decision of an investigating judge, said Sunday at a press conference in Brussels, the official representative of the Prosecutor’s office of Brussels Gilles Degema.
“This morning five people wanted by Spain, were the Federal police of Brussels. They were deprived of freedom in 9:17. In the presence of their lawyers, each of them were acquainted with concerning his warrant of arrest,” – said J. Degema.
According to him, as required by procedure, “the Prosecutor’s office of Brussels will appoint a judicial investigator with the purpose of enforcing the arrest warrants”.
A forensic investigator has several possibilities: “failure to execute a warrant, arrest, wanted persons, parole or bail”.
“All five will hear during the second half of the day assigned to the case of the Brussels court investigator. The coroner has 24 hours to make the decision which means up to 9:17 tomorrow, 6 November”, – said the representative of the Prosecutor’s office of Brussels.
In answers to questions J. Degema confirmed that Catalan politicians, in any form, will remain detained until then, until they will hear a court investigator.
However, he clarified that the magistrate will be appointed soon, after which will proceed to hearing for each detainee.
A decision on further steps, according to J. Dejemeppe, can only be taken by a magistrate, it is not a question of the Prosecutor’s office. If a decision is made about the arrest, the detainees are put into the jail.
The Prosecutor also confirmed that if the defense is to challenge the detention, then follow the judicial procedure in connection with which the term extradition to the Spanish authorities of members of the former Catalan government will extend to 60 days. Thus, possible incarceration may not exceed this period.
“Currently, we are working based on the documents that were able to send us the Spanish justice, and this will come further Belgian procedure”, – explained the representative of the Prosecutor’s office, adding that lawyers of detainees admitted to the case on Sunday morning.
Responding to a question, J. Degema said that has no information whether to apply to the Catalan politicians handcuffs, but, “if they did not pose a danger to police officers surrounding them, there was no reason to handcuff them”.
He also said he did not expect news about the decision of an investigating judge before late Sunday evening, so as to be heard on all five detainees, that will take time.
Earlier, Madrid took the decision to issue a warrant for the arrest of K. Pokdemon and his associates.
Former Catalan leader said that they are not hiding from the police and ready to take the decision that will make the Prosecutor’s office of Belgium.
Expected Spain to go to Belgium with a request for deportation of the Catalans.
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