The entrance of the building of the Higher Administrative Court in Schleswig, northern Germany, where the decision on a possible application for asylum concerning Catalonia’s former president Carles Puigdemont will be taken.
Patrik STOLLARZ / AFP

Catalonia’s ousted president Carles Puigdemont is to appear before a judge on Monday after he was detained by German police on a European arrest warrant issued by Spain, prosecutors said Sunday.

“The sole purpose of this appearance is to verify the identity of the person arrested,” the regional tribunal in the town of Schleswig said in a statement.

The court will then decide if Puigdemont will be formally taken into custody pending extradition proceedings, it added.

Judges “will establish on the basis of documents provided by the Kingdom of Spain… if Mr Puigdemont’s transfer to the Spanish authorities is legally founded,” the court said.

It added that the 55-year-old was currently in detention without providing further details.

German police arrested Puigdemont earlier on Sunday as he crossed over by car from Denmark, where had been visiting lawmakers.

Spain’s supreme court announced Friday it would prosecute 13 Catalan separatists for “rebellion” including Puigdemont, for their role in the region’s failed bid to break away from Madrid last year.

If found guilty, they face up to 30 years in prison. Twelve more face less serious charges such as disobedience.

AFP