Federal police searched the house of Brazilian Olympic Committee President Carlos Nuzman on Tuesday and issued a warrant "forcing him to testify in an investigation into bribery surrounding the awarding of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games," according to Peter Prengaman of the AP. Police said that detention warrants had been issued for Nuzman and his associate, Arthur César de Menezes Soares Filho. A photographer saw Nuzman "leaving his house accompanied by his lawyer." Police were also seen "removing suitcases, documents and a computer." Nuzman's lawyer, Sergio Mazzillo, said that his client "would cooperate but was innocent of any wrongdoing." A police statement said that authorities were investigating an int'l corruption scheme that involved the buying of IOC votes for the awarding of the 2016 Games. In total, 11 detention warrants were issued for people in Brazil and France in what police dubbed "Operation Unfair Play" (AP, 9/5). In London, Joe Leahy reported the police gave no details of the names of suspects but said that they had requested "cooperation from authorities" in France and the U.S. and indicated that raids had also been made in Paris. The operation follows "extensive investigations" into former Rio Governor Sérgio Cabral, who presided over the city when it won the Games (FINANCIAL TIMES, 9/5). Also in London, Jack de Menezes reported a spokesperson for the Rio Olympics declined to comment on Tuesday, while the IOC confirmed that it is "attempting to make contact with officials in Brazil regarding the federal investigation." The spokesperson said, "The IOC has learned about these circumstances from the media and is making every effort to get the full information" (INDEPENDENT, 9/5).
