Former Catalan police Chief Josep Lluis Trapero was indicted today by Judge Carmen Lamela of the Spanish national court for his involvement in the independence movement. Mr. Lluis Trapero is facing one count of criminal organization, in addition to two counts of sedition.
Specifically, he was charged for his “passive stance” against the referendum’s organizers and for disobeying orders from Madrid to assist the Civil Guardia in preventing the referendum from going ahead.
According to today’s indictment, he was a part of a “complex and heterogeneous criminal organization,” which was headed by former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, who is now being detained in a German prison while authorities mull over Spain’s extradition request.
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The ex-police chief – who was credited for the force’s swift response in the 2017 Barcelona terror attacks – resigned last year in the aftermath of the referendum.
Many Catalans are still hoping for another opportunity to decide if they autonomous region should become an independent state, but the prospect of a second referendum is looking very unlikely, as the Spanish government continues to consider such a democratic process in the region as “illegal.”
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