Ex-governor may have bought votes to make Rio host city for 2016 Olympics

International efforts led to Operation Unfair Play—another spinoff of Operation Car Wash—launched today (Sep 5) by Brazil’s Federal Police. The goal is to collect testimonies and evidence of the alleged purchase of the vote of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Lamine Diack for $2 million to make Rio de Janeiro as the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games. Both the country’s Federal Prosecution Service and the Federal Revenue Service are engaged in the crackdown.

Federal prosecutors believe a criminal organization was headed by former Rio de Janeiro governor Sérgio Cabral, already arrested. A large number of documents and overwhelming evidence is reported to have been gathered for the case.

Preventive arrest warrants were issued in Rio de Janeiro against executive Arthur Soares, also known as “King Arthur,” who lives in the US, and his partner Eliane Pereira Cavalcante, arrested this morning in Rio de Janeiro.

Also served was a search and seizure order at the home of Brazilian Olympic Committee head Carlos Arthur Nuzman, who was taken to the police for clarifications.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira