A European arrest warrant has been issued for the Catalan government's former education minister, who is now living in Scotland.

Clara Ponsatí was charged with rebellion following the regional government's attempt to declare independence from Spain last year.

After initially moving to Belgium to escape prosecution, she came to Scotland where she is an academic at St Andrews University.

Police Scotland said they had been in touch with Ms Ponsatí's lawyer and they expected her to hand herself in.

A Spanish Supreme Court judge issued an indictment on Friday relating to charges against five former Catalan government ministers.

This led to former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont being arrested in Germany.

Ms Ponsatí is chair of Economics at St Andrews University.

A spokesman for the university said: "We're aware that a warrant has been issued, we're staying in close touch with Clara and will continue to monitor developments very carefully."

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "We can confirm that we are in possession of a European arrest warrant for Clara Ponsatí.

"We have made a number of enquiries to try to trace her and have now been contacted by her solicitor, who is making arrangements for Ms Ponsatí to hand herself into police."

Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are. </s> Police Scotland are seeking to arrest a former Catalan minister who returned to work at St Andrews University after fleeing Spai

Clara Ponsatí was the education minister in the Catalan government when it declared independence from Spain last October following an unofficial referendum.

Ponsatí fled to Brussels with Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and three others, days after the vote, but is currently living near St Andrews.

Ponsatí had previously been director of the School of Economics and Finance at St Andrews before leaving for Spain to take up her role as Catalan education minister.

She then headed back to Scotland after the Spanish state started arresting leading Catalan politicians.

A European arrest warrant was issued for her arrest on Friday.

Police Scotland have now confirmed they are in possession of the warrant.

A police statement said: "We have made a number of enquiries to try to trace her and have now been contacted by her solicitor, who is making arrangements for Ms Ponsati to hand herself into police."

Madrid took direct control of Catalonia and sacked all officials following the independence referendum in October last year in Catalan which had been banned by the Spanish state.

A spokesman for St Andrews said: '"We're aware that a warrant has been issued, we're staying in close touch with Clara and will continue to monitor developments very carefully." </s> A former Catalan minister facing extradition to Spain has handed herself in to police in Scotland.

Clara Ponsati was made the subject of a European arrest warrant last week and gave herself up at a police station in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

She will appear at an initial extradition hearing later today before a full hearing in several weeks' time.

The former education minister is sought by Madrid on charges of "violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds" regarding her role in Catalonia's October independence referendum.

Ms Ponsati, who denies the charges, fled Spain with the autonomous community's ex-leader Carles Puigdemont and three other cabinet members and initially headed for Belgium.

But she arrived in Scotland in March and has said she will fight any attempt to return her to Spain.

Ms Ponsati's solicitor Aamer Anwar said: "Clara remains defiant, resolute and is determined to fight back.

"She wants to thank the many hundreds of thousands of ordinary people, especially in Scotland, who have shown her such love and support.

"However, it is absolutely right that the independence of the judiciary in Scotland is respected and that no Government should ever interfere in that process.

"Clara accepts her fate now lies in the hands of the Scottish justice system."

More than £100,000 was raised through crowdfunding to help pay for Ms Ponsati's extradition defence on Wednesday morning.

On Monday, there were protests outside the Spanish consulate in Edinburgh to demonstrate support for Ms Ponsati. </s> Image caption Prof Ponsatí returned to St Andrews University after fleeing Spain

A former Catalan minister who fled Spain to return to Scotland is preparing to hand herself in to police.

A European arrest warrant was issued for Clara Ponsatí on Friday.

Police Scotland confirmed they were in possession of the warrant and had attempted to trace the former Catalan education minister on Sunday.

After being contacted by her solicitor, police said arrangements were being made for Ms Ponsatí to hand herself in to police.

Clara Ponsatí was serving in the Catalan government when it declared independence from Spain in October.

She fled to Brussels with former leader Carles Puigdemont, then returned to the University of St Andrews where she had previously worked.

A Spanish judge reactivated warrants for Mr Puigdemont, Ms Ponsatí and three other former ministers on Friday.

Mr Puigdemont has now been detained in Germany, his lawyer confirmed on Sunday.

Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said she supported the right of the Catalan people to determine their own future but the Scottish authorities were obliged to follow due process and ministers were not permitted to intervene.

She added: "We strongly oppose the Spanish government's decision to seek the arrest and imprisonment of independence supporting politicians.

"The fact that our justice system is legally obliged to follow due process in the determination of extradition requests does not change those views."

Spain's central government took direct control of Catalonia and sacked officials, following the region's banned independence referendum in October.

Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and Prof Ponsatí in Brussels at the start of February

Ms Ponsatí escaped to Belgium from Spain along with Mr Puigdemont and three of his former ministers days after the independence declaration.

International arrest warrants were issued for all five but they were later withdrawn.

Ms Ponsatí later returned to St Andrews University where she had been director of the school of economics and finance before taking up her role as Catalan education minister last summer.

A spokesman for St Andrews said: '"We're aware that a warrant has been issued, we're staying in close touch with Clara and will continue to monitor developments very carefully." </s> A former member of Catalonia's regional government is preparing to hand herself in to police in Scotland after a European arrest warrant was issued, the force has said.

A former member of Catalonia's regional government is preparing to hand herself in to police in Scotland after a European arrest warrant was issued, the force has said.

A Spanish judge issued arrest warrants on Friday for Ms Ponsati and other fugitive politicians including Catalonia's ex-leader Carles Puigdemont, who has now been detained by German police. A Police Scotland spokesman said: "We can confirm we are in possession of a European arrest warrant for Clara Ponsati.

"We have made a number of enquiries to try to trace her and have now been contacted by her solicitor, who is making arrangements for Ms Ponsati to hand herself into police." Earlier this month Ms Ponsati revealed on social media that she had returned to working at the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland.

She had been in Belgium since fleeing Spain along with Mr Puigdemont and three other former cabinet members following an unsuccessful bid to declare independence from Spain in October. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "It is well established that the Scottish Government supports the right of the people of Catalonia to determine their own future and that we strongly oppose the Spanish Government's decision to seek the arrest and imprisonment of independence supporting politicians.

"The fact that our justice system is legally obliged to follow due process in the determination of extradition requests does not change those views. "Under the Extradition Act 2003, Scottish ministers have no role in the determination of European Arrest Warrants.

"Our police, prosecution service and courts are independent and are legally obliged under this UK legislation to fulfil their responsibilities. Scottish ministers have no powers to intervene in this process.

"However, the legal process includes the right of any individual subject to proceedings under the 2003 Act to oppose their extradition in the courts and it is vital that the integrity of this process is protected - for that reason the Scottish Government will not comment further at this stage." </s> EDINBURGH (AFP) - Former Catalan minister Clara Ponsati, who is wanted by Spain for her role in last year's independence bid, surrendered to Scottish police on Wednesday (March 28) to face arrest under a European warrant.

Ponsati was later released after being granted bail, but was ordered to surrender her passport during a preliminary extradition hearing at a packed Edinburgh Sheriff Court, pending a full hearing.

Lawyers for Ponsati, 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.

Supporters outside the court when she was released waved Catalan separatist flags and help up a banner reading: "We are with you".

She has received support from members of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which runs the devolved government in Edinburgh, which has condemned arrest warrants issued for the Catalan politicians.

However, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted she cannot intervene in an independent legal extradition process.

An online campaign to raise funds for Ponsati's extradition battle was launched earlier on Wednesday, and within three hours had raised more than £90,000 (S$160,000).

"My legal team is instructed to robustly defend Clara as she views these charges as 'political persecution' and a systematic attempt to crush the spirit of the Catalan people and their desire for freedom," her lawyer Aamer Anwar said in a statement.

"She does not believe that the Spanish courts can guarantee independence, human rights or justice. Clara remains defiant, resolute and is determined to fight back."

On her behalf, he thanked the staff at the university, the "many hundreds of thousands of ordinary people" who had backed her, as well as Sturgeon and the Scottish government.

"Scotland has been a true friend to Catalonia in her darkest hours," the lawyer said.

"However, it is absolutely right that the independence of the judiciary in Scotland is respected and that no government should ever interfere in that process. Clara accepts her fate now lies in the hands of the Scottish justice system."

A Spanish judge last week issued international and European arrest warrants for Ponsati and other separatist leaders, including former regional president Carles Puigdemont.

Puigdemont was arrested by German police on Sunday.

Spain's Supreme Court said it would prosecute 13 key separatists including Puigdemont and Ponsati for "rebellion", a crime which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail.

Ponsati was a minister in the Catalan government when it declared independence from the rest of Spain following a referendum in October.

She fled later that month with Puigdemont and three other former ministers to Brussels, after Spain dismissed the Catalan executive and imposed direct rule.

Ponsati then returned to the University of St Andrews, north-east of Edinburgh, where she had formerly worked and is a professor in the school of economics and finance. </s> A former Catalan minister who now lives in Scotland has handed herself in to police, as Spanish authorities seek to extradite her.

Professor Clara Ponsatí faces charges of rebellion and misappropriating public funds over the Catalan government's independence referendum last year.

Prof Ponsatí, a former education minister who is chair of Economics at St Andrews University, refutes the allegations and is expected to fight the extradition bid in Scottish courts.

She attended St Leonard's police station in Edinburgh with her lawyer Aamer Anwar on Wednesday morning.

Last week, a Spanish Supreme Court judge issued an indictment relating to charges against five former Catalan ministers, following the regional government's attempts to declare independence from Spain.

This led to European Arrest Warrants being issued, with former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont being arrested in Germany.

Mr Anwar read out a statement outside the police station.

He said: "After we enter the police station, my client will be placed under arrest.

"The European Arrest Warrant will then be served upon her and Clara will be transferred to Edinburgh Sheriff Court where she will apear from custody.

"The Spanish authorities wish to extradite Clara on charges of violent rebellion, and misappropriation of public funds for helping to organise the referendum.

"My legal team is instructed to robustly defend Clara as she views these charges as political persecution and a systematic attempt to crush the spirit of the Catalan people and their desire for freedom.

"She does not believe that the Spanish courts can guarantee independence, human rights or justice.

"Clara remains, defiant, resolute and is determined to fight back."

He said Prof Ponsatí wished to thank those who had supported her, including students colleagues and Nicola Sturgeon.

Mr Anwar added: "Scotland has been a true friend to Catalonia in her darkest hours.

"However it is absolutely right that the independence of the judiciary is respected and that no government should ever interfere in that process.

"Clara now accepts her fate now lies in the hands of the Scottish justice system."

A hearing is expected to take place at Edinburgh Sheriff Court later on Wednesday.

Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are. </s> A European arrest warrant has been reissued for a former Catalan minister who returned to Scotland after fleeing Spain.

Clara Ponsatí was education minister in the Catalan government when it declared independence from Spain in October.

She fled to Brussels with former leader Carles Puigdemont but has now returned to the University of St Andrews.

A Spanish judge reactivated warrants for Mr Puigdemont, Ms Ponsatí and three other former ministers on Friday.

Mr Puigdemont has now been detained in Germany, his lawyer confirmed on Sunday.

Spain's central government took direct control of Catalonia and sacked officials, following the region's banned independence referendum in October.

Ms Ponsatí escaped to Belgium from Spain along with Mr Puigdemont and three of his former ministers days after the independence declaration.

International arrest warrants were issued for all five but they were later withdrawn.

Ms Ponsatí later returned to St Andrews University where she had been director of the school of economics and finance before taking up her role as Catalan education minister last summer.

A spokesman for St Andrews said: '"We're aware that a warrant has been issued, we're staying in close touch with Clara and will continue to monitor developments very carefully." </s> The ex-Catalan education minister facing extradition to Spain has handed herself into police in Edinburgh after she was made the subject of a European Arrest Warrant.

Professor Clara Ponsati, a minister with the devolved Catalan Government at the time it declared independence last year, is wanted by authorities in Madrid on charges of “violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds”.

She is being sought by the authorities in Madrid on charges of “violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds” over her role in Catalonia’s controversial independence referendum last year.

Prof Ponsati refutes the charges, but attended St Leonard’s Police Station in the south of the city where it is understood she will be arrested.

She is then due to appear from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at 2pm where she will apply to be released on bail.

The economist denies the charges, which relate to her role in organising a hugely controversial referendum in October.

In a statement issued this morning, her solicitor Aamer Anwar said: “After we enter the police office my client will be formally placed under arrest.

“The European Arrest Warrant will then be served upon her and Clara will be transferred to Edinburgh Sheriff Court where she will appear from custody.

“The Spanish authorities wish to extradite Clara on charges of violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds for helping to organise the referendum.

“My legal team is instructed to robustly defend Clara as she views these charges as ‘political persecution’ and a systematic attempt to crush the spirit of the Catalan people and their desire for freedom.

“She does not believe that the Spanish Courts can guarantee independence, human rights or justice. Clara remains defiant, resolute and is determined to fight back.

“She wants to thank the many hundreds of thousands of ordinary people especially in Scotland who have shown her such love and support.

“She is truly humbled by the unconditional support from students, colleagues and the principal at St Andrews University.

“Clara wishes to thank Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Government and politicians for their solidarity. Scotland has been a true friend to Catalonia in her darkest hours.

“However it is absolutely right that the independence of the judiciary in Scotland is respected and that no Government should ever interfere in that process. Clara accepts her fate now lies in the hands of the Scottish Justice system.

A hearing for the extradition will take place at 2pm today, where we will apply for Clara Ponsati to be released on bail.

The academic, a former head of St Andrews University’s school of economics, returned to the Fife town earlier this month to resume her work as a researcher.

An arrest warrent was issued by Madrid on Friday.

READ MORE: Spain-Catalonia: How can the constitutional crisis be resolved?
Fugitive ex-minister Clara Ponsatí i Obiols says she will hand herself over to Police Scotland, who have received a copy of the European Arrest Warrant for her.