The Venezuelan judiciary granted Thursday the extradition of Gnecco Arregoces, former mayor of the Colombian city of Santa Marta.

The official, detained in Venezuela since July last year, faces corruption charges in Colombia, Efe reported.
 
According to the Court of Criminal Cassation, Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), Arregoces "presumably committed a number of crimes during his incumbency as mayor of the Colombian district of Santa Marta."

The capture of Gnecco, who has been held in a prison cell of the Directorate for Intelligence, Security and Prevention (Disip) in western Zulia state, was requested last July by the Colombian embassy and effected two days later by the local police.

At that time, the former mayor had been admitted to a hospital in Maracaibo, the capital city of Zulia state, due to "serious injuries caused by a firearm," for unknown reasons.