Supreme Court orders extradition of shipowner to Cyprus

Shipowner Michalis Zolotas, accused of bribery and other crimes, will be extradited to Cyprus to stand trial, according to a decision by Greece's Supreme Court on Friday.

The judges rejected Zolotas's arguments challenging an appeals court decision to uphold the extradition order and he will be sent to Cyprus to respond to charges that he gave former Central Bank of Cyprus governor Christodoulos Christodoulou money so that he wouldn't challenge the acquisition of a controlling stake in Cyprus's Popular (Laiki) Bank through Marfin Investment Group, owned by businessman Andreas Vgenopoulos, who died in Athens last month.