Ex-minister surrenders

Edinburgh – Former Catalan minister Clara Ponsati, who is wanted by Spain for her role in last year’s independence bid, surrendered to Scottish police yesterday to face arrest under a European warrant.

Lawyers for Ponsati, pictured, a professor at the University of St Andrews, said they will “robustly” reject charges of violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds for helping to organise last year’s independence referendum in Catalonia, which the government in Madrid deemed illegal.

Ponsati was expected to appear in court later yesterday for a preliminary extradition hearing where she will seek to be released on bail pending a full hearing.

“Clara ... is determined to fight back,” her lawyer Aamer Anwar said. –