About half of 70 Rio de Janeiro state legislators have been accused of crimes ranging from money embezzlement to murder, local media reported Saturday.
Among the 33 deputies being accused, 14 were charged with embezzling the money destined for staff payment by the state's Legislative Assembly, the O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper reported.
Other cases include alleged involvement of a lawmaker with militias that rule impoverished communities in Rio. Another legislator was charged with murder.
Earlier this week, former police chief Alvaro Lins, now a Rio state congressman, was arrested for allegedly allowing the smuggling and the use of illegal slot machines while in office.
Lins was charged with money laundering, corruption and facilitating contraband, according to federal police.
However, the Legislative Assembly voted for the release of Lins, who enjoys parliamentary immunity rights. Lins was freed on Friday.
The assembly has indicted only two of the 33 legislator suspects since its current legislative term began in 2007.
Source: Xinhua
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