Lavo Jato police to open up to 100 new investigations

Brazil's federal police expect, by June, to have started investigating 100 new cases of suspected corruption as the country's Lava Jato (car wash) probe rumbles on.

The focus will be on companies and individuals in the transport, energy and basic water and sanitation sectors, local paper Valor Econômico reported.

Federal police have identified "numerous" suspect payments involving funds originating in non-oil sectors, the paper added.

Citing information from the country's revenue department, the paper said the overall scheme is similar to that uncovered at state-run oil company Petrobras, the original focus of the Lavo Jato probe.

Police will investigate transactions from 2011, when projects started to be overpriced by 1-5% to pay off senior government officials, the paper said.

Federal judge Sergio Moro said around 750 public works "in various infrastructure sectors" are being looked at, Valor reported.

Officials said further details could not be released as investigations are still in their early stages.

The Lava Jato graft probe began by targeting Petrobras contracts but has since spread to a number of other public and private companies.

The investigation has ensnared dozens of executives and top politicians since being launched in March 2014.

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