Brazilian Federal Police conduct operation against Odebrecht in Recife and Rio de Janeiro.
Brazilian Federal Police agents took to the streets to execute 10 search warrants in Rio de Janeiro and Recife related to a new investigation into corruption and money laundering in Petrobras contracts with Odebrecht. Investigations have indicated evidence that a group of former Petrobras managers colluded to benefit the construction company in contracts with the state-owned company in exchange for bribes. "The investigated parties will be charged with the crimes of criminal association, corruption, and money laundering," the Federal Police said in a statement.
Reuters - Federal Police agents took to the streets this Friday to execute 10 court orders in Rio de Janeiro and Recife related to a new investigation into corruption and money laundering in Petrobras contracts with Odebrecht, the Federal Police said in a statement.
According to the Federal Police, the investigations pointed to "concrete evidence" that a group of former Petrobras managers colluded to benefit the construction company in contracts with the state-owned company in exchange for bribes paid into company accounts abroad.
"Those under investigation will be charged with the crimes of criminal association, corruption, and money laundering," the Federal Police said in a statement.
The Federal Police in Curitiba issued four search and seizure warrants, one warrant for coercive questioning, and one warrant for temporary arrest, in addition to three summonses imposing other precautionary measures.
The bribe payments were allegedly made by Odebrecht's so-called Structured Operations sector, responsible for paying out illicit benefits negotiated by the construction company on various fronts, and uncovered by Operation Lava Jato last year.
In December 2016, Odebrecht signed a leniency agreement with Lava Jato, in which it admitted participation in improper business practices and agreed to pay a multi-billion dollar fine.
In addition to the warrants resulting from the new investigations, the Federal Police are also carrying out a preventive arrest warrant this Friday for a defendant already convicted by Judge Sergio Moro in an ongoing criminal case investigating similar facts, the police added.