Brazil arrests former speaker on graft charges

By Senabri Silvestre

SANTO DOMINGO, Dom. Rep. (AA) – A former speaker of the lower house in Brazil was arrested Wednesday on corruption charges amid ongoing a graft controversy in the South American country.

Eduardo Cunha, an ally of acting President Michel Temer, was arrested because his freedom risks more corruption and obstruction of justice, Judge Sergio Moro ruled. Moro led the investigation of the massive bribery scandal at the state-run oil giant Petrobras.

Cunha led the effort to impeach Dilma Rousseff, Brazil’s former president who was removed from office in August for financial corruption.

The 58-year-old Cunha is accused of receiving $5 million in bribes hidden in Swiss bank accounts. Authorities have ordered a freeze on his property assets valued at more than 220 million reals ($70 million), according to the O Globo newspaper.

Cuhna resigned his post as speaker after he was suspended in May amid an investigation.

Last month, former Finance Minister Guido Mantega, who served under former presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Rousseff, was also arrested on charges linked to the Petrobras scandal.