Catalan ex-leader Carles Puigdemont granted bail

A German court ruled Thursday that Catalan's formerleader,Carles Puigdemont, can be released on bail pending a decision on his extradition to Spain, saying the most serious charge he faces isn't punishable under German law.

Puigdemont was detained in Germany on a Spanish arrest warrant as he attempted to drive from Finland to Belgium on March 25. He fled to Belgium after Spain's prime minister removed him from office and a sedition investigation was launched against politicians who led Catalonia's declaration of independence in October.

Spanish authorities accuse Puigdemont of rebellion and misuse of public funds in organizing an unauthorized referendum last year on the region's secession.

German prosecutors argued earlier this week that the main charge of rebellion is equivalent to Germany's criminal offence of treason. German law calls for prison sentences for anyone who "undertakes, by force or through threat of force," to undermine the republic's existence or change its constitutional order.

"That is not the case here," the court said in a statement.

The German judges will consider Puigdemont's extradition on the less serious charge of misusing public funds. They said there was no indication he could be "exposed to the danger of political persecution."

The court said because Puigdemont couldn't be extradited for rebellion means, he posedless of a flight risk and could be released on bail.