Guatemala Says Ex-Veracruz Governor Could be Extradited Within a Week Reuters
go to original July 13, 2017

Mexico's former Veracruz state Gov. Javier Duarte arrives to a court to attend a hearing in Guatemala City (Reuters)

Guatemala is ready to turn over to Mexico next week a former state governor wanted on charges of embezzlement and organized crime, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday, in a case that further tarnished the Mexican ruling party's record on corruption.

Javier Duarte, who governed the Gulf state of Veracruz for President Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) until last year, could be returned to Mexico on July 17, Guatemalan foreign ministry spokesman Tekandi Paniagua said.

"Mexico has proposed July 17 at nine in the morning for the extradition," Paniagua said.

The Mexican government gave no immediate comment on the widely expected announcement by Guatemala.

Under Duarte's rule, the oil-rich state of Veracruz saw a spike in gang violence and kidnappings. Accusations of widespread corruption in his administration became an embarrassment for Pena Nieto, who was widely criticized for not taking action more quickly against his former ally.

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