LOO THREAT: Catalan independence trial witness claims intimidation

A DEFENCE witness in the trial of 12 pro-Catalan independence figures currently underway in Madrid has claimed he was threatened after a toilet was left outside his home.

Albert Donaire, a pro-independence Mossos d’Esquadra police officer, took to Twitter after the toilet covered in graffiti was left outside his home.

The graffiti included drawings of genitals and phrases including: “Alberto, for when you go to the Supreme Court”.

Another said: “You bring shame on your uniform.”

A Catalan flag was also draped over the toilet and yellow ribbons, the symbol used by pro-independence supporters, were left discarded next to it.

“This was left to threaten me outside my home,” Donaire said on Twitter.

The Catalan National Assemby’s Mossos Per La Republica group said the toilet amounted to the intimidation of a witness which is a crime.

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont said the incident showed the quality of the rule of law in Spain.

It comes as Donaire is due to testify at the Supreme Court in Madrid as part of the Catalan independence trial on Wednesday April 24.

Defendants on trial in Madrid face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty of sedition, rebellion and embezzling public funds over the 2017 independence push.

This week saw testimonies from National Police and Guardia Civil officers who were on duty on the day of the referendum on October 1 2017.