BRASILIA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazilian lawmaker Rodrigo Rocha Loures, a special advisor to Brazilian President Michel Temer, was arrested on Saturday in a corruption investigation that also implicates the president, police said.
In a police video released last month, Rocha Loures was seen receiving a suitcase containing 500,000 reais (150,000 U.S. dollars) in cash that prosecutors say was a bribe from the owner of the world's largest meatpacker JBS company.
Investigators are now seeking to determine if Rocha Loures received the money on behalf of Temer to defend the interests of the JBS in the government.
The presidential office has not commented on the arrest of the former aide.
The owner of the JBS company reportedly turned over a tape in which Temer can seemingly be heard signing off on bribes and indicating that Rocha Loures could help the company with certain issues.
The Supreme Court has ordered an investigation against Temer and Rocha Loures for corruption, criminal organization and obstruction of justice, triggering the worst political crisis in Brazil since Temer took office last year.
