Academics including an American Nobel prizewinner have condemned the prosecution of a Spanish economist who — along with 38 others — face fines of millions of euros for their supposed role in Catalonia’s illegal independence referendum in 2017.
Andreu Mas-Colell, 76, a retired university professor, was in charge of the department responsible for Catalonia’s finances and budget until his retirement in 2015.
Spain’s accounts tribunal, a government body that oversees public accounts, has ruled that he and those accused with him were responsible for the misuse of €4.8 million of public funds that it believed were employed to promote abroad the independence cause between 2011 and 2017. The size of the fine is due to be declared on June 29. The defendants may appeal but
