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BRAZIL-POLITICS
Rio de Janeiro governor arrested on corruption charges: media
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 29, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The governor of Rio de Janeiro,
Luiz Fernando Pezao, was arrested Thursday over allegations he received
bribes as part of the sprawling “Car Wash” graft probe, according to
Brazilian media.
The Globo News television channel showed live footage of federal police at
the residence of the governor, who was having breakfast at the time and
remains in his home in custody.
Pezao is accused of taking bribes when he was vice governor under Sergio
Cabral, who is currently in prison after being sentenced to a cumulative 180
years for corruption.
The police also raided the Guanabara Palace, headquarters of Rio de
Janeiro’s government, searching for documents.
The Superior Court of Justice issued the arrest warrant based on the
confession of Carlos Miranda, a former Cabral associate, who cooperated in
exchange for a sentence reduction.
According to Miranda’s testimony Pezao would have received a monthly
payment of 150,000 reais ($40,000) as well as end-of-the-year bonuses of up
to one million reais.
The money would have been paid by companies and intermediaries bound by
contracts with the Rio de Janeiro government during a period from 2007 to
2014.
The state of Rio de Janeiro is on the verge of bankruptcy and plagued by
insecurity.
Wilson Witzel was elected in October to govern the state and is set to
take office January 1.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1608 hrs