Top Rio lawmaker arrested in corruption probe

Brazil's federal police arrested Jorge Picciani, president of the Rio de Janeiro state legislative assembly, as part of an investigation into potential wrongdoings involving public transportation contracts.

Prosecutors allege that certain lawmakers, headed by Picciani, are part of an organization that has been engaged since the 1990s in clandestine and sophisticated financial practices to hide corruption proceeds from federal and state resources, as well as transfers from Rio state passenger transport federation Fetranspor.

The accusations include lawmakers receiving bribes to benefit certain public transport companies with contracts.

However, the arrest of a lawmaker needs to be approved by the legislature, which was expected to vote on the matter late on Friday.

The Rio legislature has 70 lawmakers and 36 votes are needed to overturn the arrest of Picciani.