Spanish court confirms it’s competent to try Catalonia’s former police leadership

National Court will judge former chief Trapero and interior ministry officials for their role in the independence bid

Former Catalan police chief Josep Lluís Trapero (left) arrives in Spain's National Court (by ACN)
Former Catalan police chief Josep Lluís Trapero (left) arrives in Spain's National Court (by ACN) / ACN

ACN | Madrid

February 22, 2019 02:16 PM

Spain’s National Court has confirmed that it’s competent to try the former leadership of the Catalan police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, for its role in the independence referendum.

Mossos chief Josep Lluís Trapero, former interior ministry officials, Cèsar Puig and Pere Soler, as well as former police head, Teresa Laplana, are accused of putting the Catalan police force "at the service of the plans for independence."

Catalan police officers closed nearly 300 polling stations during the 2017 independence referendum, following orders from Spanish courts. Yet, and unlike Spanish police, they didn’t use force against referendum voters.