A top Spanish judge has demanded explanations from police and government officials about how Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was able to return to Spain despite an arrest warrant and disappear again, AFP reported.
Judge Pablo Llarena, who issued the warrant for Puigdemont's arrest, specifically demanded an explanation from the Barcelona police.
On August 8, the Catalan leader returned to Spain after living in Brussels for 7 years. Puigdemont fled to the Belgian capital to avoid prosecution for being one of the leaders of the failed secession attempt in Catalonia in 2017.
Catalan regional police said they had arrested two of their officers, including the one who owned the car Puigdemont used to escape.
Law enforcement, which launched a manhunt for Puigdemont, 61, denied any collusion with his entourage. They insisted officers had planned to arrest him "at the most opportune moment to avoid public disorder".
According to documents released by the Supreme Court, Judge Larena asked the interior ministry for details of its plan to arrest the Catalan leader at the border, as well as the "orders issued" to capture the politician "after his escape".
Puigdemont's lawyer said he had fled abroad again, without giving details. | BGNES
