Deposed official denied freedom again by Spanish judge

The Spanish judge overseeing the case against Catalan pro-independence leaders, Pablo Llarena, has once again denied freedom for the former official Joaquim Forn. The reason given was over a letter read out in an event giving support to the pro-independence grassroots group CDRs (short for Committees in Defense of the Republic.) 

Forn entered jail in the Madrid region on November 2 last year, where he has been held since. He was member of the deposed Carles Puigdemont cabinet from July to October in 2017, working as home affairs minister.

Abandoned political career

He has repeatedly asked to be released, arguing that he has effectively abandoned his political career and therefore no longer poses a risk of a repeated offence in terms of a push for Catalan independence.

Forn renounced his seat in parliament in January in order to convince the judge to release him, but he was not successful. 

Leaders in jail 

There are currently nine Catalan leaders in jail, including the deposed vice president Oriol Junqueras who also entered jail on Novemeber 2.

So far, seven pro-independence leaders have left Spain to seek refuge in different European countries, including the deposed president Carles Puigdemont, in Germany. 

Deposed ministers Jordi Turull, Josep Rull, Raül Romeva, Dolors Bassa and former Parliament speaker Carme Forcadell were sent to prison on March 23, after Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena indicted them in relation to last October’s referendum and declaration of independence. They had all also previously spent time in jail on November 2, but were subsequently released.