Police investigate government leader in Brazil Senate

20/9/2019 0:57

        Brazilian police say the governing coalition's leader in the Senate is one of the targets of an investigation into a possible kickback scheme. Federal police agents searched the offices and private homes of Sen. Fernando Bezerra Coelho on Thursday. Bezerra Coelho's attorneys say the investigation also covers his son, a federal lawmaker. Attorney Andre Callegari said Bezerra Coelho denies wrongdoing and called the search "unnecessary." The investigation was launched in 2017 and predates the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro, who took office on Jan. 1. Authorities are looking into illegal activities allegedly carried out when Bezerra Coelho was in the Cabinet of former President Dilma Rousseff. Police said Brazil's Supreme Court has signed off on 52 search warrants. Over 200 police officers are participating in Thursday's operation.