Rio de Janeiro's former governor arrested over corruption allegations

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Sergio Cabral, the former governor of Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state, has been arrested over corruption allegations in connection to a $64 million embezzlement scheme, police said.

Cabral, a member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, served as governor from 2007 until 2014. He was arrested after two construction company directors alleged he received kickbacks in return for awarding them contracts, including the refurbishment of the Maracana stadium in Rio -- an icon from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Investigators said Cabral received more than $100,000 from Brazil's Andrade Gutierrez, O Globo reports. His arrest is part of the nationwide Operation Car Wash corruption investigation, in which Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, former president of Brazil, has also been accused of corruption.

Brazilian prosecutor Eduardo El Hage said the "criminal organization" in connection to Cabral stole millions of dollars to pay for "their stewardship and eccentricities around the world."

The most significant corruption scandal in Brazil involves Petrobras, a semi-public oil and gas company. Authorities said the bribes and embezzlement led to $12.6 billion in losses.