SAO PAULO (AP) — The former CEO of the construction company at the center of Latin America's largest corruption scandal has left prison after two-and-a-half years and is headed to house arrest.

Marcelo Odebrecht cooperated with prosecutors and testified that executives at the Odebrecht company routinely paid bribes and made illegal campaign contributions to politicians in exchange for securing state contracts and other favors.

The federal court in the southern city of Parana confirmed that Odebrecht left prison on Tuesday morning and was having an electronic bracelet attached.

Odebrecht's conviction and jailing were seen as a major victory for the "Car Wash" investigation that uncovered nearly institutionalized corruption involving politicians in several countries and several major Brazilian companies.