Brazil ex-minister accused of obstructing corruption probe

(Reuters) – Brazilian police yesterday arrested former minister Geddel Vieira Lima as part of an investigation into loans that state bank Caixa Econômica Federal extended to meatpacking, finance, toll road and real estate companies between 2011 and 2013, the prosecutor-general’s office said.

In a statement, the prosecutor-general’s office accused Vieira Lima of acting to obstruct the investigations. Vieira Lima was in charge of President Michel Temer’s relations with congress. An attorney for Vieira Lima did not immediately reply to requests for comment.