Brazilian Olympics Committee chief and the organizing committee of the 2016 Rio Games Carlos Nuzman arrested on Thursday in Rio de Janeiro.
On the other hand, Brazilian police also arrested Nuzman’s man Leonardo Gryner. He is targeted by the same charges as Nuzman.
About 20 police officers in the chic Leblon district of Rio, in the early hours of the morning escorted Nuzman to the federal police headquarters.
Nuzman was arrested on suspicion of corruption, money laundering and participating in a criminal operation after Brazilian prosecutors alleged his estate increased in value by 457% between 2006 and 2016. He also suspected of buying votes to win the 2016 Olympic, according to Brazilian Police.
However, Rio prosecutor’s office had ordered to release and guarantee the two suspects with 310 million francs.
“The temporary prison in Nuzman and Gryner is essential not only to guarantee public order but also to freeze their wealth and prevent them from interfering in the production of evidence,” Brazilian prosecutor officer said.
Nuzman’s residence, located in the chic Leblon district, was searched as was the headquarters of the Brazilian Olympics Committee and numerous big companies and his passport had been confiscated.
This operation involved French police and justice officials, including the renowned anti-corruption judge Renaud van Ruymbeke.
Carlos Nuzman is escorted from the federal police headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. (Source:www.wallstreetjournal.com)
At the same time, the French prosecutors had sifted through the home of a Brazilian intermediary based in France as part of an investigation opened in 2015 in France on suspicions of corruption in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 elections.
In June, the Brazilian justice suspects the former Rio governor, Sergio Cabral, who is currently serving a 14-year sentence after participating in the embezzlement of $64 million from construction contracts, including the renovation of Rio’s Maracana stadium, where the 2016 opening and closing ceremonies were held.
The IOC Ethics Commission and Compliance Officer, meanwhile, asked the Brazilian authorities for full information in ordered to proceed with the IOC’s investigation.
“The IOC’s Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer has asked the Brazilian prosecutors for full information in order to proceed with the IOC’s investigation, and has offered our full cooperation,” an IOC spokesman said.
“The IOC will not comment further on this matter until a recommendation is issued by the Ethics Commission.” he added.
The IOC Ethics Commission had ordered Nuzman’s attorneys to contact the Brazilian judical authorities to obtain information on the case.
