BRASÍLIA: Brazilian prosecutors lodged corruption charges Thursday against the speaker of the lower house -- a key figure in the country's current political crisis -- and also against a former president.
Eduardo Cunha, speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, was alleged to have taken at least $5 million in bribes as part of a sprawling kickbacks scheme centered on state oil company Petrobras.
Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot alleged that Cunha received payoffs relating to contracts to build two drilling vessels for Petrobras. He is accused of corruption and money laundering.
The prosecutor said $80 million in fines and restitution had to be paid back in Cunha's case.
Cunha maintained his innocence, saying he was "relieved" that the case would go to court, and said he will not resign.
"I will continue to perform (the duties) that I was elected to do by a majority of the chamber. I am completely at peace with that," he said.
Fernando Collor de Mello, a former president who left office in 1992 in another corruption scandal before returning to politics as a senator, was also charged in connection with the Petrobras scheme.
The Supreme Court, which handles all cases involving federal politicians, confirmed that charges had been filed against Collor, but no details were provided.
Police raided Collor's house in July and confiscated a Ferrari, a Porsche and Lamborghini luxury car.
He tweeted that that he was victim of "a media circus that is to the detriment of individual rights and guarantees.
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