Petrobras Scandal: Attorney's Office Accuses 36 and Demands US$420 Million Back

12/12/2014 - 08h40

The seventh part of the "Car Wash" operation carried out by the Brazilian Federal Police has resulted in 36 people charged, most of them executives of contractor companies accused of cartel formation, for winning bids illegally and for corrupting Petrobras staff in the last ten years.

The charges suggest corruption crimes, money laundering and racketeering involving six contractor companies.

According to the Attorney's Office, if the accused were condemned for all three offenses, the sentences may be from 11 to 51 years in prison.

The Attorney's Office has understood that the crimes brought about bribes and losses to Petrobras in the sum of US$420 million and the Office requests to the Court that the accused be sentenced to reimburse this sum to the public company.

All five claims are linked to contracts in the Supplies department of Petrobras, headed by Paulo Roberto Costa, one of the accused, between 2004 and 2012.

Claims regarding other departments should be filed in the next few days.

"We have started to break away with the impunity of powerful groups that have been sticking together against the interest of the country for many years", public attorney Deltan Dallagnol has said.

A number of contractors have been charged, including: six executives from the OAS, four from Mendes Júnior, four from Galvão Engenharia, four from Engevix, three from Camargo Corrêa and two from UTC.

The currency changer Alberto Youssef, alongside others has also been accused of facilitating the distribution of bribe money under his command.

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

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	Juca Varella/Folhapress
	"We have started to break away with the impunity of powerful groups", said public attorney Deltan Dallagnol (L)