Puigdemont, four associates surrender to Belgian police

International Desk: Sacked Catalonian president Carles Puigdemont and four associates have surrendered to Belgian police, the Belgian prosecutor's office announced on Sunday, two days after a Spanish judge issued a European arrest warrant for the separatist leader.

Spain issued a European arrest warrant for Puigdemont and four of his associates for rebellion, sedition and the misuse of public funds on Friday.

A Madrid High Court judge had asked Belgium to arrest Puigdemont and his associates after they ignored a court order to return to Spain to face the charges, which stem from the decision to go ahead with a Catalan independence referendum on October 1 that was declared illegal by Spain.

Puigdemont had said he is ready to cooperate with authorities.

"We are prepared to fully cooperate with Belgian justice following the European arrest warrant issued by Spain," Puigdemont wrote in Dutch on his Twitter account.

 

Source: France24

 

risingbd/Dhaka/November 5, 2017/A K Azad