Eight members of former Catalan regional gov't appear in court again

MADRID, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Eight former members of the Catalan regional government appeared in the Spanish Supreme Court here on Friday after requesting their release from prison where they are currently awaiting trial on charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of government funds.

The eight, who include former deputy leader Oriol Junqueras, were originally denied the bail by the Spanish High Court, when the judge Carmen Lamela decided there was a risk for them to either leave the country (as former leader Carles Puigdemont had done) or destroy evidence.

However, the eight confirmed earlier this week that they renounced the unilateral independence declaration made in October and were willing to accept the application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution which Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy invoked to suspend the autonomy of the Catalan region until new elections are held on December 21.

Spanish media reported that Junqueras and former foreign affairs spokesman, Raul Romera both refused to answer questions from the prosecuting council, but that the other six did.

Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart of pro-independence cultural groups, ANC and Omnium Cultural, who have been in prison since October, also appeared in court, asking to be granted bail.

The judge is expected to make his decision on Monday. Enditem