Germany could extradite former Catalan leader for embezzlement

BERLIN (AP) – A court of Germany erected a legal obstacle to allow the extradition of a prominent Catalan independence politician to Spain by

The court of Schleswig-Holstein ruled that the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont may be extradited to answer charges of Breach of trust, but no rebellion.

Germany does not recognize the accusation of rebellion, and the court says that related German laws such as that which punishes treason do not apply because the actions of Puigdemont "do not reach"

The accusations stem from the unauthorized referendum convened by the Catalan regional government last year and from a unilateral declaration of Later independence by the regional parliament, which has a separatist majority 19659002] Puigdemont described the sentence of victory, tweeting that "we have defeated the central lie of the state (Spanish). German justice denies that the October 1st referendum was a rebellion. "

The ruling means that if extradition is specified, Puigdemont can only be tried in Spain for embezzlement of public funds," said court spokeswoman Christine von Milczewski

. Maximum penalty for rebellion is 30 years imprisonment and 12 years for embezzlement.

The German Attorney General's Office, which has yet to formally rule on the extradition request, said in a statement that he would do it soon "and he does not intend to appeal the sentence. He did not respond to requests for statements by phone or email.

Puigdemont fled to Spain to escape prison and resides in Hamburg during the extradition process. The sentence says that she can stay free

The spokesperson of the press Puigdemont Joan María Piqué, said in a statement that without the accusation of rebellion "the main Spanish accusation falls"

"Catalan political prisoners must be released NOW", he said. "He remains at liberty.And there are options to refute the embezzlement."

Catalan President Quim Torra, a fervent separatist, said that rejection of the rebellion charge was a "wonderful new "

" This proves once again the errors and lies behind a legal case that should never have been initiated We will win in Europe, "he tweeted