AFP, Rio De Janeiro :
Police in Rio de Janeiro raided the house of Brazil’s Olympic Committee chief Tuesday in a probe into alleged bribes paid to get the city chosen as host of the 2016 Olympic Games, Globo television reported.
Police began searching Carlos Nuzman’s house early in the morning and Nuzman, who headed Rio’s successful bid to become the first South American host of the Olympics, was due to be questioned later, Globo reported.
There was no immediate confirmation from police.
According to the report from Brazil’s biggest news organization, Nuzman is suspected of taking direct part in bribery of the International Olympic Committee and of acting as an intermediary between bribe givers and takers.
French officials were reported to have joined the search of Nuzman’s residence in Rio’s posh Leblon neighborhood.
Arrest warrants were issued against two other people, Globo reported.
The Rio games were generally credited with being a sporting and organizational success but revelations of massive corruption during the preparations have badly tarnished the legacy.
In June, former Rio governor Sergio Cabral was sentenced to 14 years prison. He was convicted of bribery and money laundering, including participation in the embezzlement of 220 million reais ($64 million) from public works projects such as Rio’s iconic Maracana football stadium.
