Twenty-two people detained in Catalan raids

Investigating magistrate Joaquin Aguirre leaves one of the buildings

By Mark Armstrong with EFE

Published on 24/05/2018 - 16:19

Spanish authorities are investigating the alleged diversion of public funds to entities involved in the 2017 independence referendum

The Spanish National Police arrested 22 people on Thursday for their alleged participation in the diversion of public funds to different entities in Catalonia, some linked to the independence referendum in 2017.

Officers searched the headquarters of several Catalan public institutions for evidence of the alleged diversion of at least two million euros.

According to sources among those detained was Salvador Esteve, the ex-president of the provincial government of Barcelona and the Association of Catalan Municipalities. The AMC is made up of town halls that support Catalan nationalism.

Last years independence referendum was ruled illegal by Madrid and several prominent Catalan politicians were jailed on charges of rebellion.

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