September 13, 2016 - 11:02 AMT
Brazil ex-speaker expelled from Congress over Swiss bank accounts

The powerful former speaker of the lower house of the Brazilian Congress, Eduardo Cunha, has lost his seat after an overwhelming vote by fellow members of Congress to eject him, BBC News reports.

Cunha had denied having millions of dollars hidden in Swiss bank accounts - said to be the proceeds of corruption.

But information from Swiss authorities proved the existence of the accounts.

Cunha - seen as the architect of former president Dilma Rousseff's impeachment - could now face arrest. Rousseff was removed last month for moving funds between government budgets, which is illegal under Brazilian law.

During a bitter debate on Monday, Cunha accused her supporters of seeking revenge against him.

The vote was seen as critical for the credibility of Congress and all eyes will now be on what Cunha does next, BBC News says.

He is also known as the "keeper of secrets" in Congress, where dozens of other politicians are also accused of fraud and has suggested he may cooperate with investigators into a wide ranging corruption scandal.