Brazil: accused of corruption, the mayor of Rio, Marcelo Crivella, arrested
The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Crivella, former evangelical pastor, arrested on December 22, nine days before the end of his mandate.
MAURO PIMENTEL AFP / Archivos
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A few days before the end of his mandate, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro was arrested on December 22.
Marcelo Crivella, beaten in the second round of the municipal elections in November, is accused of being at the head of a vast system of corruption, information which plunges the city a little more into a political crisis.
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From our correspondent in Rio de Janeiro
,
Sarah Cozzolino
After the governor of the state of Rio dismissed in August for corruption, it is the turn of
Marcelo Crivella
, nine days before the end of his mandate.
The mayor of Rio, a former evangelical pastor, claims to be a victim of "
political persecution
".
"
My government is the one that has fought the most against corruption in Rio
", declared the outgoing mayor this Tuesday morning, December 22, during his arrest at his home.
The one who had been supported by the Brazilian president during the last municipal elections, is accused of being at the head of a vast system of corruption within the city hall of Rio, nicknamed by the investigators of "
HQ of the bribes. wine
”.
Relatives arrested
During the operation, several of his relatives were arrested, including businessman Rafael Alves, brother of the former president of the municipal tourism agency, and suspected of being the brains of the system.
In less than four years, five former governors have been in trouble with the law, and four have served time.
The future mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, who had already led the city from 2009 to 2016, will take over on January 1 and ensure that the transition has already begun.
► To read also: Brazil: Rio the party girl chooses a Puritan mayor
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Brazil
Justice
Corruption
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