Operation Lava Jato (Car Wash) Aims at People and Businesses Linked to Senators in Brazil

03/22/2017 - 12h10

The Brazilian Federal Police launched on Tuesday (21) the first phase of the Operation Lava Jato (Car Wash) linked to the plea bargain deals made with the Odebrecht employees. Fourteen warrants were issued in Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Alagoas and the Federal District.

All of them involved people connected to Senator Euncio Oliveira (PMDB-CE party), the current Senate President, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL party), the former Senate President Humberto Costa (PT-PE party) and to Senator Valdir Raupp (PMDB-RO party). The politicians were not directly hit by this phase, which did not include people with privileged jurisdiction (that can only be judged by the Supreme Court)

The operation was christened "Satellites" because the main investigators gravitate around people with privileged jurisdiction.

In a statement, the Public Prosecutor's Office said the objective is to investigate indications of active and passive corruption and money laundering. The investigation is under secrecy of Justice.

Translated by MARINA DELLA VALLE

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