Brazilian Contractors Involved in Petrobras Probe Try to Be Pardoned by Government

06/05/2015 - 08h54

Contractors involved in the corruption scheme at Petrobras try to convince the government to forgive them for the damage caused to the state-run oil company in exchange for the full payment of the compensation.

The agreements currently under negotiation should not succeed because builders risk being condemned and be barred from doing business with the government - which could lead many of them to bankruptcy.

The new proposal, obtained by Folha, tries to transfer negotiations from the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) to the Brazilian Attorney General's Office (AGU).

The advantage is that if transferred to the AGU, contractors will be free after paying the debts in cash. Only AGU has the authority to do this kind of deal.  

The proposal was presented to the ministries of Finance and Social Welfare.

The agreement would guarantee the progress of infrastructure works and avoid layoffs, but Dilma Rousseff's administration has reservations, as it could give the idea that the President tries to spare the defendants.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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