Brazilian prosecutors have charged a son of President Jair Bolsonaro with corruption, a development that threatens to ensnare the rightwing leader in scandal following a period of political calm. Investigators in Rio de Janeiro late on Tuesday charged Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator, with embezzlement, money laundering and criminal association, the culmination of an investigation that began almost two years ago.

The authorities alleged that Flávio Bolsonaro ran a “rachadinha” scheme along with several associates while a Rio state lawmaker before becoming a senator.

Such schemes, a feature of Brazilian politics, typically involve elected politicians using state funds to take on a large number of employees, who then funnel back their salaries to their boss.

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(Photo: Reuters)