SÃ O PAULO—Brazilian federal police carried out
search-and-seizure requests Tuesday against several local
politicians, including former President Fernando Collor de Mello,
as part of an investigation into an alleged corruption scheme at
state-run oil firm Petró leo Brasileiro SA.
The police seized documents in the home and offices of several
congressmen, including Mr. de Mello, according to a police
spokesman. The spokesman declined to name the other politicians
whose homes and offices were searched.
Neither Mr. de Mello nor his lawyer returned phone calls Tuesday
morning for comment. Previously, Mr. de Mello has denied any
wrongdoing.
Mr. de Mello was Brazil's president from March 1990 to October
1992, when he was impeached due to corruption allegations. He was
barred from politics for almost a decade and then won a senate seat
in 2006.
"The [searches] are necessary to clarify the facts investigated
under the [Supreme Court], and some were made to ensure the seizure
of assets acquired through possible criminal activity, and to
safeguard other relevant evidence that could be destroyed if it was
not seized," Brazil Attorney General Rodrigo Janot said in a
statement.
In March, Mr. Janot asked the Supreme Court for permission to
proceed with investigations against a number of politicians,
including the heads of both chambers of Congress, as part of the
corruption case known as "Operation Car Wash" because some funds
were allegedly laundered through a service station. Under Brazilian
law, only the Supreme Court can try politicians.
Brazil Senate President Renan Calheiros and Chamber of Deputies
President Eduardo Cunha have both denied any wrongdoing. Tuesday's
seizures didn't target either leader, police said.
Brazilian authorities last year uncovered what they allege is a
decadelong corruption scheme that touched the highest levels of
business and government. Prosecutors allege that the nation's
largest construction firms inflated the prices of Petrobras
contracts by billions of dollars, kicking some of their ill-gotten
gains to company insiders and politicians. Some of the accused have
denied the allegations, and some are cooperating with prosecutors.
Petrobras has said it was a victim of the scheme and is cooperating
with authorities.
Write to Rogerio Jelmayer at rogerio.jelmayer@wsj.com
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