A St Andrews University academic fighting extradition from the UK for her role in Catalonian’s unsanctioned 2017 independence referendum will now hand herself in to the Scottish authorities on Thursday November 14.
Professor Clara Ponsati’s lawyer Aamer Anwar confirmed on Wednesday that she will appear with him at St Leonard’s Police Office in Edinburgh on Thursday morning.
She will then be detained and arrested and transferred to Edinburgh Sheriff Court for an afternoon hearing where her legal team will apply for bail.
A statement will be issued thereafter.
Ms Ponsati, who was education minister in the Catalan government, had intended to hand herself over to police in Edinburgh last Thursday after a new Europaen arrest warrant was issued.
She is wanted in Spain on a charge of sedition, which she denies.
However, her appearance last week was deferred after her lawyer said “glaring contradictions” in a “rambling” 59-page warrant were now being challenged and it had been returned to Spain.
Mr Anwar said in his latest statement: “Following the sentencing of nine Catalan political prisoners to a total of 100 years, a new European Arrest Warrant has been executed by Spain for Professor Clara Ponsati for the crime of ‘sedition’ relating to her involvement in the peaceful independence referendum of 2017.
“That warrant which we maintain is full of contradictions, is ‘rambling’ and unable to explain what criminal offences the Spanish Supreme Court accuses Clara of. However following ‘clarification’ from Judge Llarena it has finally been accepted by the UK authorities for execution.”
Mr Anwar went on to say that Clara faces the charge of ‘sedition’, which she utterly refutes.
If extradited and convicted Clara could face a sentence of up to 15 years.
“This warrant is viewed as yet another example of ‘judically motivated revenge,” he added.
“It is our intention to argue that there can be no guarantee of a right to a fair trial in Spain, where most members of the Catalan Government are already in prison or exile.
“If Clara were to be returned to Spain then it is believed that she would be subjected to a ‘Show Trial’ where the only possible verdict could be one of guilty. We will submit evidence to show that her extradition would be unjust and incompatible with her human rights.
“It is not a crime to vote for independence and the extradition will be opposed robustly. It is Clara’s intention to put on trial the Spanish Justice System as well to consider citing those politicians who have interfered with due process.
“Clara is once again taking on the might of the Spanish state and remains resolute and determined to fight and believes Spain will never be able to crush the spirit of the Catalan People.”
