The judge of the National Court Santiago Pedraz has authorized Jordi Pujol Ferrusola to move through the Schengen area, although he maintains the withdrawal of his passport, according to a ruling to which La Vanguardia has had access.
The head of the Investigating Court number 5 of the National High Court has adopted this decision against the criteria of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, which was opposed due to the proximity of the trial and the serious accusation against him and for whom he requests 29 years in prison .
In the resolution, the magistrate explains that "given that the defendant has been fulfilling the obligations imposed in December 2017 and the time that has elapsed, the request for freedom of movement through the Schengen area is granted."
According to the defense of the eldest son of the former Catalan president, five years have passed since the measures were imposed on him, which have been "strictly" complied with. Not only has he not left the country, but he has deposited the imposed bail of 500,000 euros and has appeared in court when he has been called.
In addition, he recalls that his entire family lives in Barcelona, "which only increases the indisputable proof of his roots, and that is that there is no personal circumstance that indicates greater interest in staying in our territory, such as being able to lead a normal life with his family".
In May of last year, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office presented its indictment against the entire Pujol family. For the patriarch, he requests nine years in prison for the crimes of illicit association and money laundering. For the eldest son, 29 years in prison, to which he adds the crimes of forgery in a commercial document, five crimes against the Public Treasury and another of frustration of the execution. For his ex-wife, Mercé Gironés, 17 years in prison are requested for allegedly participating in several of the crimes. Jordi Pujol Soley's wife has been exonerated due to her delicate state of health.
The judge who instructed the case, José de la Mata, prosecuted them, among other crimes, for criminal organization although the Prosecutor's Office finally decided to lower it to illicit association, which carries lower penalties.
The Prosecutor's Office believes that there are indications to bring the Pujol family to trial, considering that it has been proven in an indicative manner that the Pujol Ferrusola took advantage of their privileged position of ascendancy in Catalan political, social and economic life for decades, "to accumulate an excessive wealth, directly related to economic perceptions derived from corrupt activities".
