Catalan police chief released without passport on sedition charges

The chief of the Catalan police, Josep Lluís Trapero, will sleep in Catalonia tonight after testifying in front of the National Court in Madrid. Trapero is accused with sedition charges in relation to the October 1 referendum on independence. The public prosecutor asked the judge to send Trapero to prison, but the latter opted instead for less drastic measures. Trapero won’t be able to leave Spain, his passport will be confiscated, and he will have to visit a court twice a month. One of his subordinates was also released today with similar measures.

In a report sent to the judge, the Spanish Guardia Civil accuse the Catalan police of “flagrant inaction” in the October 1 referendum. The Catalan police managed to seal off hundreds of polling stations, but did not use force to prevent voters from casting their ballots. Instead, the Spanish police violently cracked down on voters, leaving nearly 900 injured.

Trapero is accused of being part of a strategic committee with the ultimate goal of declaring independence, alongside the Catalan president and vice president, and leaders of pro-independence organizations.

Indeed, the presidents of the two main pro-independence civil society groups, the Catalan National Assembly and Omnium Cultural, also appeared in court today facing similar charges.