CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuela asked the United  States yesterday to extradite the owner of a bank linked to the  opposition that the authorities seized in June citing concerns  about liquidity problems and a risk of fraud.

Nelson Mezerhane, who ran Banco Federal and was a  co-founder of the Globovision opposition television station,  has not been seen in the South American country since June. The  authorities in Caracas believe he is in the United States.

On June 30 a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges  including criminal association, fraudulent use of public funds,  appropriation of funds and making false financial disclosures.

“Prosecutors … based their request on information that  the banker is in the United States and is needed by Venezuela’s  justice system,” the attorney general’s office said in a  statement. On Aug. 10, Venezuela’s government said it planned to sell  some of Banco Federal’s assets.

Mezerhane has denied any wrongdoing and accused the  authorities of taking revenge for political motives.