Odebrecht Will Pay US$ 184 Million to the Dominican Republic

04/20/2017 - 10h55

On Wednesday, April 19, the courts of the Dominican Republic ratified the agreement that Brazilian construction company Odebrecht signed with the Attorney General's Office of the Caribbean country.

In it, Odebrecht agrees to pay a fine of US$ 184 million in eight installments. The amount is twice the total the company paid in bribes for public contracts in the Dominican Republic between 2001 and 2014.

Information disclosed by the United States Department of Justice shows that Odebrecht paid some US$ 92 million in bribes in the country during the period.

The American agency says that Odebrecht obtained contract benefits amounting to US$ 163 million in return. In the negotiations in the Dominican Republic, the company agreed to show evidence and facts involving corruption in the country and to carry out a compliance system.

The agreement guarantees that Odebrecht will maintain its projects in the Dominican Republic and that it can sign new contracts to work for the country's public service. It also guarantees benefits for the company's employees who worked in the country.

They will be acquitted of any possible penalties.

Odebrecht's website says that the company has three ongoing building projects in the Dominican Republic and 11 have already been finished.

Odebrecht's lawyer in the Dominican Republic, Robert Valdéz, says that the ratification of the agreement "recognizes the company's efforts and cooperation." "It also reinforces Odebrecht's capacity to continue contributing to the development of the country."

On Monday, April 17, Judge Raymond Dearie, of the Federal Court of Brooklyn, ordered Odebrecht to pay a fine of US$ 2.6 billion for bribing public agents abroad.

In December 2016 the United States Department of Justice disclosed documents that contained details of alleged bribes amounting to some US$ 788 million paid by the Brazilian company in 12 countries in Latin American and Africa.

Odebrecht is also negotiating contracts with authorities in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panamá, Peru, Argentina, among other countries.

In collaboration with WÁLTER NUNES, from São Paulo

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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