Spanish judge sends eight former Catalan officials to jail

A Spanish high court judge on Thursday ordered former deputy Catalan premier Oriol Junqueras and seven other ousted officials jailed, after they were ordered to testify concerning their roles in Catalonia's bid for independence.


Judge Carmen Lamela agreed to hold the eight ousted leaders in pre-trial custody after prosecutors requested all former members of the Catalan cabinet be detained -- with the exception of Santi Vila, who immediately resigned after Catalonia's independence declaration last week. He will have to pay a nearly $60,000 bond to avoid prison.

Lamela justified the decision, saying the accused "made use of the population to encourage acts of public insurrection, disobedience and collective resistance."
 [upi.com]
 2/11/17