Brazil police in Petrobras searches

Brazilian police have searched properties linked to politicians suspected of taking bribes in a scandal involving the state-run oil company, Petrobras.

Prosecutors said the aim was to prevent evidence being destroyed.

Police seized luxury cars from the home of the former Brazilian President, Fernando Collor de Mello.

The bribery scandal has undermined the standing of the current President, Dilma Rousseff.

Mr Collor denied any wrongdoing and posted on social media that “the measure was invasive, arbitrary and flagrantly unnecessary considering that the facts of the case have been investigated for at least two years… and I have never even been called to give any clarification.”

Fifty-three searches were carried out “in homes, offices, company headquarters, law firms and public institutions.” the police said in a statement.

Brazilian media said a senator, Ciro Nogueira, a congressman, Eduardo da Fonte and the ex-Cities Minister, Mario Negromonte, were also being investigated.

The police said the operation had taken place in the Federal District of the capital Brasilia and six states.

Since March last year the Petrobras investigation, nicknamed by police “Operation Car Wash”, has placed former Petrobras executives and some of Brazil’s most powerful construction contractors behind bars.

Thirty-four congressmen and one state vice-governor are under investigation.

Investigators allege firms paid corrupt officials in order to get lucrative Petrobras contracts.

The scandal has rocked Brazil’s governing Workers’ Party, with top politicians in several parties accused of taking bribes.

But President Rousseff, who chaired Petrobras when much of the corruption is believed to have taken place, has been cleared of involvement.