Brazil's prosecutor general sought Tuesday to open probes against scores of politicians in a dramatic widening of an already vast graft scandal shaking Latin America's biggest country.
Although the names of those being targeted remained sealed, Brazilian media quoted anonymous sources confirming expectations that the list contained a Who's Who of the political elite.
Several Brazilian news sites said at least five ministers in President Michel Temer's government were in the crosshairs, including his recently appointed new foreign minister Aloysio Nunes, as well as the presidents of both houses of Congress.
Leftist ex-president Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor and mentor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a huge figure on the Brazilian political scene, were also on the list, Brazilian media reported.
Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot sent a request to open a total of 83 corruption probes to the Supreme Court, which handles cases involving serving members of Congress or the government, his office said in a statement.
Janot also asked the court to unseal the cases so that the details can be made public, "considering the necessity to promote transparency and to safeguard the public interest."
It was not clear how quickly the Supreme Court would give its response.
Plea bargain testimony
The complaints against the politicians ramp up the so-called Car Wash probe, which has uncovered massive embezzlement and bribery based on state-oil company Petrobras.
The accusations in Janot's list are based on a deluge of testimony given in connection with plea bargains struck with 77 former executives of the giant Odebrecht construction firm, which was at the heart of the Petrobras scheme.
The former Odebrecht employees, including ex-CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, have confessed to systemic bribery of politicians in exchange for inflated contracts with Petrobras and favorable legislation in Congress. The money went either directly into politicians' pockets or into party campaign slush funds.
Speculation has been mounting over possible damage to Temer's center-right government. Several ministers have already had to resign due to involvement in the Car Wash scandal since Temer took power last year.
Temer himself has previously been implicated in Odebrecht testimony for allegedly asking for unregistered campaign donations to his PMDB party. He says that he did nothing illegal and there was no immediate indication that he would face a probe by Janot.
Temer is also involved in a separate case at the Supreme Electoral Court which is looking into whether his 2014 election as vice president on the ticket with then president Rousseff benefitted from campaign slush funds.
The court could, in theory, annul the election's result, creating yet another wave of instability for Brazil, which is mired in its worst recession in history.
'End of the world'?
After seemingly endless revelations of high-level corruption connected to Petrobras, political parties and major contractors, the Odebrecht testimony has been likened in the capital Brasilia to the end of the world.
Tension has been rising since last week as Brazilian media continuously reported that Janot was on the point of making his bombshell request to the Supreme Court, only for another day to pass without incident.
Now that Janot has pulled the trigger, the focus will shift to the political fallout at a time when the deeply unpopular Temer is trying to guide market reforms through Congress in a bid to put Brazil's economy back on its feet.
In addition to the 83 cases against politicians handled by the Supreme Court, Janot requested the opening of 211 cases against others under the jurisdiction of regular courts.
The stipulation that the Supreme Court handles any serving member of Congress and the cabinet is seen as a form of protection for politicians, since the highest court works slowly. Estimates are that it could take years for the court to pronounce a sentence in the current cases -- if they get to trial at all.
Many of those outside the Supreme Court's jurisdiction -- including Lula, as an ex-president -- face Operation Car Wash's implacable chief judge Sergio Moro.
Lula is already accused of taking bribes from Petrobras contractors in separate investigations and faces five trials. He denies any involvement in corruption and says the legal onslaught is designed to stop him seeking re-election in 2018.
AFP
Wed Mar 15 2017
Brazil's Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot, listens during a meeting of the Council of Prosecutors in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, March 13, 2017. AP Photo/Eraldo Peres
Pahang rancang wujudkan zon perindustrian di setiap daerah
Kerajaan Pahang rancang wujudkan zon perindustrian di kesemua 11 daerah di negeri ini bagi menggalakkan kemasukan lebih banyak pelaburan asing khususnya dari China.
Kertas kabinet wujud sektor sukan dibentang dalam tempoh sebulan - Hannah
Hannah berkata dengan data yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan sektor industri sukan nanti, pihaknya akan mampu merangsang pertumbuhan sukan di negara ini dengan lebih baik.
Tiga Syarikat Semikonduktor umum melabur di Pulau Pinang - Kon Yeow
Tiga syarikat semikonduktor dari China menyatakan komitmen untuk membuat pelaburan baharu di Pulau Pinang.
Pindaan garis panduan lawatan: Sekolah diharap susun semula program - Fadhlina
Semua sekolah diharap dapat menyusun semula program lawatan masing-masing berikutan pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan Murid Sekolah pada tahun lepas bagi mengukuhkan pembelajaran di luar kelas, kata Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek.
Kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak dijaga sehingga tamat sekolah - KPM
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia akan memastikan kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak 10 pegawai dan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia yang terkorban dalam nahas helikopter di Lumut, Perak, terus dijaga sehingga mereka tamat persekolahan.
Chegubard ditahan polis berkaitan hantaran mengenai kasino di Forest City
Chegubard ditahan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini berkaitan hantaran mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City pada Sabtu.
Zahid minta pihak dalam BN buka "buku baharu"
Ahmad Zahid menegaskan senario politik tanah air sudah berubah dan terdapat banyak video lama dari parti lawan yang meminta pengundi menyokong DAP.
Malaysia kongsi pengalaman dalam usaha berterusan mempertahan Palestin
Delegasi negara akan berkongsikan peranan Malaysia dalam usaha berterusan mempertahankan nasib Palestin dalam Persidangan Liga Parlimen Al-Quds kelima yang berlangsung di Istanbul, Turki pada Sabtu.
Universiti Malaya mohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia
Jabatan Pengajian Antarabangsa dan Strategik, Universiti Malaya memohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia berhubung kenytaaan tidak bertanggungjawab Profesor Dr Bruce Gilley pada 24 April lalu.
Genting Malaysia nafi terbabit perbincangan
Selepas Berjaya Corporation Bhd dan Kerajaan Negeri Johor, kini Genting Malaysia Bhd pula menafikan sebarang penglibatan dalam perbincangan mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Vinicius Junior menangis jawab isu penderaan perkauman
Penyerang sensasi Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior, menangis dalam sidang media selepas ditanya mengenai isu perkauman yang melibatkan dirinya.
12 maut akibat banjir, tanah runtuh di Brazil
Sekurang-kurangnya 12 orang terbunuh akibat banjir dan tanah runtuh berikutan hujan berterusan di Brazil, kata pegawai pada Ahad.
Euro 2024: Southgate positif di sebalik England tersungkur kepada Brazil
Gareth Southgate gembira dengan mutu persembahan England meskipun tewas kepada Brazil dalam perlawanan persahabatan.
Kes denggi meningkat di Brazil, cabar rancangan vaksinasi
Brazil disahkan mencapai satu juta kes demam denggi pada tahun 2024, dengan 214 kematian.
Kelayakan Olimpik: Brazil kandas, tidak layak ke Paris 2024
Brazil gagal melayakkan diri ke kejohanan bola sepak Olimpik lelaki selepas tewas 1-0 kepada Argentina.
Pantai Rio de Janeiro masih sesak meskipun kes denggi meningkat
Orang ramai dilihat hadir ke pantai Rio de Janeiro untuk mengambil bahagian dalam karnival jalanan yang dinanti-nantikan meskipun terdapat kebimbangan mengenai peningkatan kes demam denggi.
Masihkah ada dendam antara Neymar dan jurulatih baru Brazil?
Dorival Junior menggantikan Fernando Diniz yang menjadi pengurus interim sejak Julai 2023.
Malaysia dan Brazil tingkat kerjasama dalam isu utama global
Malaysia dan Brazil komited untuk meningkatkan penyelarasan dalam bidang kepentingan bersama menerusi dialog.
12 maut dalam nahas pesawat di Amazon Brazil
Sekurang-kurangnya 12 orang, termasuk seorang bayi, maut apabila pesawat ringan yang mereka naiki terhempas di negeri Acre di barat laut Brazil.
14 maut pesawat terhempas di Brazil
Mangsa terdiri daripada pelancong yang dalam perjalanan untuk menjalankan aktiviti memancing.