An internal investigation by the Mossos d’Esquadra has concluded without finding direct communication between three police agents and former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. The agents faced accusations of aiding his brief return to Catalonia on 8 August 2024.
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The General Commissariat of Internal Investigation of the Mossos prepared a comprehensive report. VilaWeb accessed this report, which details the thorough analysis of content from the agents’ mobile phones. Authorities seized these devices in January. This was part of the ongoing judicial inquiry.
This extensive analysis represented the final pending judicial step in the complex case. The investigation concerns the agents’ alleged involvement in a concealment offence, a serious charge under Spanish law.
Judge María Antonia Coscollola, presiding over Instruction Court number 24 in Barcelona, leads the sensitive case. She specifically requested the Mossos to intervene the phones. The judge also sought detailed call information from seven major telephone companies. However, investigators found no significant information. This could incriminate the agents directly.
Far-Right Pressure and Judicial Orders
The judge initially ordered the “forced intervention” of the investigated agents’ mobile phones. This came after a persistent request from the far-right private prosecution group Hazte Oír. This group is actively involved in the case as an accuser. They sought to examine potential messages and communications with Mr Puigdemont. These communications allegedly occurred between one month before 8 August 2024 and 9 August 2024. This was considered a critical period.
Judge Coscollola initially rejected Hazte Oír’s request, citing privacy concerns. However, Hazte Oír appealed this decision to a higher authority. The Barcelona High Court then ordered the request to be fulfilled, overriding the initial refusal. Weeks passed after the High Court’s resolution. Consequently, the Mossos’ Internal Investigation Division urged Judge Coscollola to expedite the process. They highlighted the delay.
No Direct Links Found in Phone Data
The judge eventually instructed the Mossos to intervene the agents’ phones as ordered. She also directed them to request comprehensive data from network operators. Two months later, the exhaustive search yielded no communication with any of the four phone numbers officially associated with President Puigdemont. These include three mobile numbers and one landline, all under scrutiny.
Investigators only located one 55-second call between two of the investigated agents. This brief call occurred at 14:06 on 29 July 2024. This was ten days before Salvador Illa’s investiture session in the Catalan Parliament. It was also ten days before Mr Puigdemont’s widely publicised reappearance. This occurred in Barcelona.
Internal investigation agents seized the mobile terminals from the agents in early January. They meticulously analysed one phone line linked to one agent. They also scrutinised two lines for another agent, and four for the third. However, further investigation revealed that two of these numbers actually belonged to family members. Investigators noted a dozen calls between them during the analysis period. These calls, they concluded, held “no interest for the investigation”.
Case Future and Political Implications
This significant judicial step, pushed by the far-right and ultimately backed by the Barcelona High Court, has now concluded. Judge Coscollola must now decide the future of the investigation, which has been lengthy and contentious. The agents’ defence teams requested the case be shelved months ago. They argued the instruction had exhausted all procedures. They also stated it lacked any indication of wrongdoing. The defence considered it had become a “fishing expedition”, searching for evidence without initial grounds.
This case highlights the intense ongoing political and judicial scrutiny surrounding Carles Puigdemont. His movements and associates remain under close watch by various entities. The outcome will be significant for the careers and reputations of the agents involved. It will also reflect on the broader political landscape in Catalonia, particularly concerning the independence movement and its figures.
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Originally published by VilaWeb Feed. Read original article.
