Brazil's Ex-President Collor Charged with Corruption

Brazilian Senator Fernando Collor, who served as Brazil's president from 1990 to 1992 was charged Tuesday with corruption charges associated with the Brazilian company Petrobras, after the Supreme Court approved a complaint filed by the Prosecutor's Office for passive corruption, money laundering, and participation in organized crime.

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Brazil's Federal Supreme Court said in a statement on Tuesday that the filed complaint against Collor was approved unanimously by the court. All charges levied against him were accepted, with the exception of embezzlement and obstruction of justice.

Collor has been accused by the Attorney General of receiving around US$9 million in bribes between 2010 and 2014 for operations of BR Distributor, which is a subsidiary of the state oil-company Petrobras.

After receiving the bribe money, Collor allegedly bought several high-end cars: a Ferrari, Bentley, and two Land Rovers.

Collor, who is a member of the Brazilian Labor Party, resigned from his brief presidency in 1992 amid allegations of corruption. He was the first democratically elected president in Brazil following the years of military rule.

This is the third senator to be charged in with corruption associated with the massive Petrobras scandal, following Gleisi Hoffmann of the Workers Party and Valdir Raupp of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, which is the party of unelected President Michel Temer.