SAO PAULO, Brazil. – The Federal Police arrested this Thursday morning former President of Brazil Michel Temer (2016-2018) in the city of Sao Paulo, as part of the Lava Jato anti-corruption case, according to local media reports.

Authorities also detained Wellington Moreira Franco, former minister of Mines and Energy, and an important collaborator of Temer. In addition, the police has other arrest warrants against six people, including businessmen and Colonel Joao Batista Lima Filho, a friend of Temer.

Sources indicate that to Temer, 78, of the Brazilian Democratic Party (MDB), was being transferred to Guarulhos Airport, where he would embark on a Police plane to Rio de Janeiro.

Judge Marcelo Bretas, responsible for the Lava Jato case in Rio de Janeiro issued the detention mandates. It is still unclear what processes the arrest warrants against Temer and Moreira Franco refer.

The former president has been quoted in several bribery-related investigations, the most prominent of which implies the transgression of port laws to benefit port companies

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