The Barcelona court which is investigating the Catalan referendum case has summoned the top executives in the Catalan public radio and TV networks to testify before the judge, as individuals who are under investigation. Vicent Sanchis, director of TV3, and Saül Gordillo, head of Catalunya Ràdio, have been called to testify on 23rd January at Barcelona court number 13, along with the director of the Catalan Data Protection Authority, Maria Àngels Barbarà, who is also under investigation.
The summons, dated December 20th, does not specify the reason. The court is investigating possible misappropriation of public funds or disobedience of court rulings relating to the publicity broadcast by TV3 and Catalunya Ràdio for last year's independence referendum. In addition, it is also examining a possible breach of privacy with respect to electoral roll data. A fourth person, Llorenç Birba Font, has been called to testify as a witness.
At the beginning of October 2018, the acting chairperson of the Catalan Broadcasting Corporation (CCMA), Núria Llorach, was also called to court in connection with the same issue. She was asked to give explanations about the institutional publicity campaign for the Catalan independence referendum held on October 1st, 2017.