This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/carles-puigdemont-catalonia-germany-extradite-charges-rebellion-spain-arrest-a8290806.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Germany refuses to extradite Catalonia's Puigdemont on rebellion charges | Germany refuses to extradite Catalonia's Puigdemont on rebellion charges |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Catalonia’s ex-president Carles Puigdemont will not be extradited to Spain on rebellion charges, a German court has ruled. | |
| The former separatist leader may still face action over a lesser charge of corruption, said judges, who agreed to release him on bail pending a decision. | |
| Mr Puigdemont was arrested upon Germany as he travelled back from Finland to Belgium, where he had been living in self-imposed exile after fleeing Spain in October. | |
| The state court in Schleswig bailed Mr Puigdemont on Thursday after ruling he was was less of a flight risk since he cannot be extradited on the main charge Madrid has levelled at him. | |
| The court rejected Spain’s request to extradite him over alleged rebellion because the comparable German charge of treason specifies “violence”. | |
| Madrid accuses Mr Puigdemont of fomenting rebellion by trying to declare Catalonia an independent state following a referendum last year that it says was illegal. | |
| Spain also accuses the 55-year-old of misuse of public funds and German judges said they will consider his extradition on that lesser charge. | |
| The state court set bail conditions including a €75,000 (£65,000) payment. | |
| “There is a risk of flight,” the court said. “But since extradition on rebellion charges is impermissible, the risk of flight is substantially lessened.” |