The National Court tribunal that is trying the Pujol family for alleged illicit enrichment has decided to exempt the former president of the Generalitat, Jordi Pujol i Soley, 95, from criminal responsibility, after the former Catalan leader underwent a new medical examination this Monday.
The president of the court communicated it in the courtroom, specifying that, after the last medical evaluation and a meeting of the magistrates with the former president, in which the forensic doctor and his defense were also present, it has been agreed that Pujol will be "out of the proceedings".
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office sought 9 years in prison and a fine of 204,000 euros for the historic Catalan leader as the alleged perpetrator of crimes of illicit association and money laundering.
The Public Prosecutor's Office maintains the accusation against Pujol and his seven children, to whom it attributes the creation of an alleged illicit association that for decades would have enriched itself through corrupt practices, taking advantage of the political position of the then president.
The case is also brought against 15 alleged collaborators, including several businessmen who, according to the prosecution, would have contributed to laundering the Pujol family's assets through shell companies allegedly managed by the eldest son of the former President of the Generalitat, Jordi Pujol Ferrusola.
The Prosecutor's Office and the State Attorney's Office maintain that certain businessmen paid commissions in exchange for public contracts and that, to cover up the illicit origin of these funds, simulated operations were carried out. Both parties reject that the family fortune in Andorra comes from the inheritance of grandfather Florenci Pujol.
Preliminary forensic report
In November, a team of forensic doctors from the courts of Barcelona went to the home of the former president of the Generalitat and carried out various cognitive tests on him in order to determine if he was in a condition to face the trial.
In the conclusions of that report, which Europa Press had access to and which was sent to the National Court, it was established that Pujol suffers from "a diagnosis of major neurocognitive disorder of mixed type (Alzheimer's type and vascular type)".
According to the experts, this clinical picture implies a moderate cognitive decline that is "irreversible, progressive, evolving, and without effective treatment".
For this reason, the specialists concluded that the former president lacked the conditions to travel to Madrid or provide testimony, understanding that he did not have the necessary procedural capacity to exercise his defense.
Despite this, the National High Court tribunal summoned the former leader in person this Monday at the San Fernando de Henares (Madrid) headquarters and ordered a new medical examination to decide whether or not to take his statement in the trial.
Children's Statements
The statements of the rest of the accused, including Jordi Pujol's seven children: Jordi, Josep, Pere, Oleguer, Oriol, Marta, and Mireia, are scheduled to begin this Monday.
The Prosecutor's Office requests the highest penalty for Jordi Pujol Ferrusola, for whom it claims 29 years in prison for alleged crimes of illicit association, document forgery, money laundering, frustration of execution, and several tax offenses.