Former Brazil President Michel Temer has been arrested on 21 Mar 2019 Thursday as part of a sweeping anti-corruption investigation known as Operation Car Wash investigation.
Mr Michel Temer was arrested in his hometown of Sao Paulo on Thursday morning local time and will be flown to Rio de Janeiro.
Mr Michel Temer was president from 2016 to 2018, taking office following the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, for whom he served as vice-president for six years.
He was succeeded this year by Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right former military officer who is himself implicated in a separate corruption scandal.
Local media say police had been trying to trace Mr Michel Temer since Wednesday. His former Mining and Energy Minister Moreira Franco was also arrested.
While in office, Mr Michel Temer was hit by corruption charges which were blocked by his allies in Congress.
Mr Michel Temer, a longtime legislator, was hit with corruption charges during his presidency which were blocked by allies in the lower house Congress.
Mr Michel Temer has consistently denied any wrongdoing. His arrest was considered imminent after he lost his legal protection when he left office.
