Ponsati’s disbelief at charges
A FORMER Catalan minister who handed herself in to police in Scotland yesterday has accused Spanish authorities of “a grotesque distortion of the truth”.
St Andrews University professor Clara Ponsati volunteered for arrest after Spain issued a European warrant. She was bailed after a 10-minute court hearing in Edinburgh.
Ponsati served in the regional government who held an “illegal” referendum and declared independence from Spain last year.
She faces extradition on charges of violent rebellion, which carry a potential 25-year sentence in Spain.
She also faces charges of misappropriation of public funds, which could lead to an eight-year jail term.
The hearing in Edinburgh was attended by several SNP MSPs and former Scottish Parliament presiding officer Tricia Marwick.
Ponsati had to surrender her passport as part of the bail conditions and is due to appear again on April 12.
Outside court, she was greeted by about 200 Catalan campaigners.
Her lawyer Aamer Anwar said: “Clara wishes for me to state that these charges are politically motivated and a grotesque distortion of the truth.
“She cannot believe she’s being held responsible for the violence that took place on the day of the referendum.
“She believes the only people who should be held responsible for the brutal violence are the Spanish police and the 6000 state security forces who attacked the Catalan people on behalf of the Spanish government.”
Ponsati returned to work at St Andrews, where she used to be head of the school of economics, after the failed independence bid.
A crowdfunding bid to raise money for her extradition defence was nearing its £200,000 target last night, just hours after its launch.
It’s oil to pay for