Brazilian authorities are looking for mayor Lidiane Leite, who is on the run. Picture: Instagram Source: Supplied

An arrest warrant has been issued for Bom Jardim mayor Lidiane Leite, 25, who authorities believe stole funds earmarked for schools in her town, which is in the Brazilian state of Maranhao, one of the country’s poorest regions.

Prosecutors also said the young mayor’s only contact with her cabinet was through daily messages sent on the messaging app WhatsApp.

Ms Leite has been on the run for about 12 days, a spokeswoman for Brazil’s federal police told CNN.

Although she was popularly elected into office, the young leader did little to endear herself to constituents while in the top job.

She played up her lavish lifestyle on social media, with her private Instagram account awash with photos of her sipping champagne at nightclub parties, posing with her personal trainer and holidaying with friends.

“Before I was mayor I was poor, and had a Land Rover,” she wrote on Instagram, according to Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.

“Now I’m in a Toyota SW4. I should have bought a better car, because thanks to God money is no longer a problem.”

Lidiane Leite. Picture: Instagram Source: Supplied

Bom Jardim is in Maranhao, in Brazil’s northeast, which is believed to be one of the country’s most impoverished states.

Many of the town’s 39,000 residents have taken to the streets to call for an end to corruption, reported CNN.

An arrest warrant has also been issued for Ms Leite’s boyfriend and main political adviser, Beto Rocha, who was forced to step down from running for mayor in 2012 due to corruption.

Ms Leite replaced him as mayoral candidate and she was elected into office. But rather than stay in Bom Jardim, she went to live in the state capital of Sao Luis, 275 kilometres away.

“She was too young and inexperienced when she took office,” her lawyer, Carlos Barros, said.

“She lacked confidence and delegated many tasks to Mr Rocha.”

Ms Leite’s life of luxury came crashing down when her name was mentioned in a federal investigation that found $US4 million in funds for Bom Jardim’s schools had gone missing.

The town’s education system has now collapsed and teachers are not being paid, the BBC reports.

Investigators believe other members of Bom Jardim’s local government were involved in the corruption scheme.

Ms Leite’s former deputy was sworn in as mayor on Saturday and promised to launch a full investigation.

A state judge said he would seek an international arrest warrant if she did not hand herself in by today.

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