BN-JP190_0728br_J_20150728123637Brazilian authorities arrested the chief executive of the nuclear power unit of state-controlled electric utility Eletrobras July 28 and carried out nearly two dozen search warrants on related businesses, widening a sweeping investigation into corruption at some of Brazil’s biggest government firms, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It was reported that Federal police arrested Othon Luiz Pinheiro da Silva, the president of Eletrobras unit Eletronuclear. They also arrested Flavio Barra, an executive with the energy unit of construction firm Andrade Gutierrez. Federal prosecutors say that Mr. da Silva, who is currently on leave, took 4.5 million reias ($1.2 million) in bribes from construction companies from 2009 to 2014.

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA, or Eletrobras, is Latin America’s biggest electric company by revenue and controls power generation, transmission and distribution companies throughout Brazil.