RIO DE JANEIRO, June 18 -- A former aide to a son of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was arrested by Brazilian police on Thursday on corruption charges.
Fabricio Queiroz, an ex-assistant to Flavio Bolsonaro, who is a senator, had disappeared from the public eye for over a year, but was located at the home of Frederick Wassef, the senator's lawyer.
Queiroz is suspected of participating in a scheme to embezzle public funds through Flavio Bolsonaro's office when the latter was a state representative in Rio de Janeiro, a post he held until he was elected to the Senate in 2018.
Queiroz's bank statements show he dealt with amounts incompatible with his salary, receiving over 2 million reals (over 372,000 U.S. dollars) in bank deposits from several employees of the Rio de Janeiro State Assembly, prosecutors said.
Senator Bolsonaro is suspected of being the main beneficiary of the scheme.
A warrant has also been issued for Queiroz's wife, Marcia, who is considered to be a fugitive.
Prosecutors consider Queiroz a flight risk and have requested his preventive detention.