RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s former Olympic supremo Carlos Artur Nuzman and ex-world athletics boss Lamine Diack have been formally indicted by Rio de Janeiro prosecutors over vote-rigging accusations concerning the award of 2016 host rights.

According to the indictment Nuzman and Sergio Cabral, the former governor of Rio, ” directly solicited ” from Arthur Soares, a Brazilian businessman, ” the payment of $2m “to Papa Massata Diack,” to secure votes among members of the International Olympic Committee in 2009.

Cabral – who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence – Papa Massata Diack and Arthur Soares – both out of the country – were also indicted, along with Leonardo Gryner, formerly Nuzman’s right-hand man.

According to the prosecutor’s office Nuzman, Gryner and Cabral met Lamine Diack in August 2009 in Berlin at the World Athletics Championships, and the Senegalese leader suggested that they deal with his son over the payment of bribes.

Papa Massata Diack – Lamine Diack’s son and formerly a marketing consultant to the International Association of Athletics Federations – has been placed on Interpol’s list of most wanted people in connection with fraud, money laundering and corruption allegations.

Nuzman, who was arrested at his home on October 5, has denied all wrongdoing and been released on bail.

##############