RIO DE JANEIRO — The former governor of Rio de Janeiro, who helped bring the Summer Olympics to the city, was arrested on Thursday as part of an investigation into bribery and embezzlement in construction projects.
The former governor, Sérgio Cabral, was arrested as part of an inquiry into the embezzlement of 224 million reais, or about $64 million, intended for public works projects, according to the authorities. He led the state of Rio de Janeiro from 2007 to 2014, when he resigned amid suspicions of corruption and growing street protests.
Mr. Cabral’s arrest reflects how figures across the ideological spectrum in Brazil’s political class remain on edge as major corruption investigations advance.