Prosecutor requests Catalan police chief be held in custody

A Spanish high court prosecutor has requested that Catalan police chief, Josep Lluís Trapero, be remanded in custody without bail as part of an investigation into charges of sedition. The prosecutor considers Trapero to have acted “in direct connection” with Catalan pro-independence leaders in a “strategic committee” with the goal of achieving independence. A judge is set to make a decision on the police chief’s future at 6pm on Monday.

According to court sources, the prosecutor asked for Trapero to be held in custody to avoid him giving orders to his officers that might be contrary to those from the courts aimed at preventing a declaration of independence. The prosecutor made his request after Trapero gave evidence in which he denied ignoring court orders or being part of any strategic committee.

The president of the Catalan National Assembly, Jordi Sánchez, and the president of Òmnium Cultural, Jordi Cuixart, are also due to appear in court on Monday evening.