RIO DE JANEIRO – Rio de Janeiro state police arrested outgoing Mayor Marcelo Crivella on Tuesday in connection with an alleged kickbacks scheme, yet another show of political turmoil in Brazil’s postcard city.The evangelical pastor turned politician is scheduled to leave office on Jan.
1 after losing a reelection bid to his predecessor, Eduardo Paes.Investigations earlier this year showed Crivella had close links to Rafael Alves, a businessman who was also arrested on Tuesday.
Alves reportedly promised government contracts in exchange for payments, police and prosecutors said. Alves never held an official position, but his brother was the head of the city’s tourism office and he held frequent meetings with Crivella.