Spanish Supreme Court rejects former Catalan leader s bail appeal

Madrid Jan 6 (IANS) The Spanish Supreme Court on Friday rejected the appeal made by former Catalan deputy leader Oriol Junqueras on releasing on bail as he awaits trial on charges of rebellion sedition and misuse of public funds.

Junqueras made his appeal on Thursday after spending over two months in prison Xinhua news agency reported.

He said that after being re-elected to the Catalan assembly in December 21 regional elections he should be allowed to represent his voters.

However the Supreme Court judges unanimously rejected Junqueras appeal arguing there was no evidence he would abandon the idea of unilateral independence for Catalonia and saying the leader of Esquerra Republicana (ERC) had "risen up against the Spanish state against the Constitution against the Catalan Statute and against the remainder of judicial order."

The Supreme Court said it was an "illegitimate" and "very serious" act.

--IANS
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