Government Will Collect US$ 1 Billion from Those Convicted in Lava Jato Operation

02/06/2017 - 13h10

A task force established by the National Treasury Attorney-General's Office and the Federal Reserve is set to collect nearly US $ 1billion (R$ 3 billion) from individuals and companies who were investigated in the Lava Jato Operation.

The sum is an estimate of the Income Tax on assets built with corruption money at Petrobras.

During this initial phase, which began at the end of last year and runs until March, 12 individuals targeted in the investigation will be charged.

The first individuals include former Petrobras manager Pedro Barusco and his wife, Luciana Adriana Franco. Both will have to pay approximately US$ 19 million (R$ 53 million).

The collection process is confidential. Folha learned that, after Barusco, next on the list are former Petrobras directors Paulo Roberto Costa, who is currently serving an open sentence, and Renato Duque, who is jailed in Curitiba.

In the investigation, they are considered members of the group behind the state corruption scheme.

The Attorney General's list also includes former Chief of Staff José Dirceu and the ex-treasurer of the Workers' Party João Vaccari Neto, both currently jailed in Curitiba.

Black market banker Alberto Youssef, who made a plea bargain and is now under house arrest, will also be charged in court.

Authorities expect that, through the process, all of the individuals convicted on Lava Jato charges will be subjected to the tax action.

To ensure tax payment, the task force plans to block assets.

In Barusco's case, the Attorney General of the Treasury told the court that the tax should correspond to more than 30 percent of his declared assets. Without the block, there is risk of a diversion of assets.

Folha reached out to Pedro Barusco's attorney, but did not receive an answer. The Attorney General of the Treasury would not comment, claiming that the information is protected by fiscal confidentiality obligation.

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

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