Two men have been arrested in Venezuela for the murder of a ruling party lawmaker and his assistant, a high-profile crime with political overtones, the country's supreme court said Sunday.

In a statement, the high court identified the suspects as Eduwin Torres and Carlos Garcia, but gave no other details about them.

Local news reports said Torres was a police officer and Garcia a bodyguard of slain lawmaker Robert Serra, who was found stabbed to death on October 2 at his home with his assistant Maria Herrera.

The court said the two men are accused of "the alleged commission of the crimes of aggravated homicide, conspiracy and other crimes."

If found guilty, they face up to 30 years in prison.

President Nicolas Maduro hinted a day after the murders that they were politically motivated, and his interior minister called it "an intentional act of homicide, planned and carried out with great precision."

The 27-year-old Serra was a rising star in the ruling United Socialist Party of the late president Hugo Chavez.

Since succeeding Chavez in April 2013, Maduro has come under increasing pressure even within his own party over the country's policies and direction.

Discontent over widespread shortages, soaring inflation and high crime ignited bloody street protests earlier this year that left 42 dead.

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