Former Petrobras Manager Pays Back Millions Amassed Through Bribery

03/12/2015 - 12h05

Brazil's Federal Prosecutors have repatriated US$ 58 million from accounts held by the former executive manager of Engineering at Petrobras, Pedro Barusco, in Switzerland.

The amount was paid in on Wednesday (11) in the account of the 13th Federal District Court of Paraná, in Curitiba.

The repatriation of the money embezzled by Pedro Barusco is the largest in history.

Until now, the largest repatriation agreement had been at the value of US$ 26 million, which, in turn, came from the former Supplies director at Petrobras, Paulo Roberto Costa.

Out of US$ 58 million, US$ 44.8 million were paid in on Wednesday (11).

Repatriation of funds is the result of winning denunciation of agreement made between Barusco and the MPF. The former manager is one of the main informers of the Petrobras public resources diversions scheme investigated by operation Car Wash.

Peter Barusco agreed to a whistleblower award with the federal prosecutors who are investigating the case.

Under the agreement, the former executive manager pledged to return US$ 97 million - equivalent to R$ 298.7 million.

According to their statements, the Workers' Party (PT) may have received between US$ 150 million and US$ 200 million in fees that came from the scheme at work at Petrobras.

The party denies.

Federal Prosecutors traveled to Switzerland in November 2014 to try to identify funds from the scheme that were being held in bank accounts there.

Switzerland is known for its legislation that protects banking secrecy.

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

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	Ueslei Marcelino - 10.mar.15/Reuters
	Former manager of Petrobras Pedro Barusco testifies for the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry in the Chamber of Deputies