TRF4 confirms convictions of Bumlai, Cerveró, Vaccari and three other defendants.
The TRF4 (Regional Federal Court of the 4th Region) upheld the criminal appeals of seven defendants in the Lava Jato corruption scandal linked to transactions involving the Schahin Group; cattle rancher José Carlos Bumlai, Schahin Group partners Salim Taufic Schahin and Milton Taufic Schahin, former Petrobras director Nestor Cerveró, former PT treasurer João Vaccari Neto, and operator Fernando Falcão Soares had their convictions confirmed.
From TRF4 - The Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF4) judged this Wednesday (30) the criminal appeal of seven defendants from Operation Lava Jato linked to the transactions of the Schahin Group. The cattle rancher José Carlos Bumlai, the partners of the Schahin group Salim Taufic Schahin and Milton Taufic Schahin, the former director of Petrobras Nestor Cerveró, the former treasurer of the PT João Vaccari Neto and the operator Fernando Falcão Soares had their convictions confirmed. Only one of the defendants, Fernando Schahin, who had been sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in the first instance, was acquitted.
Bumlai, Milton, and Vaccari had their sentences upheld. Salim, Cerveró, and Falcão had their sentences reduced by a few months.
The facts
Bumlai allegedly benefited from a R$12 million loan granted by Banco Schahin in 2004, acting as an intermediary to conceal the true destination of the money, which was the Workers' Party (PT). In return, Schahin Engenharia was contracted in 2009 by Petrobras to operate the Vitória 10.000 drillship for a period of 10 years, renewable for another 10, for a total value of US$1,5 billion.
Falcão allegedly brokered the hiring of Schahin by Petrobras, Vaccari allegedly accepted the undue advantage in favor of the PT (Workers' Party), and Cerveró allegedly acted to ensure that the bribe money reached the PT.
Convictions:
José Carlos Bumlai: convicted of fraudulent management of a financial institution and corruption. The sentence was upheld at 9 years and 10 months imprisonment.
Salim Taufic Schahin: convicted of fraudulent management of a financial institution and corruption. His sentence was reduced from 9 years and 10 months to 9 years and 6 months of imprisonment. He made a plea bargain and had his sentence reduced to serve it in an open regime.
Milton Taufic Schahin: convicted of fraudulent management of a financial institution and corruption. The sentence was upheld at 9 years and 10 months imprisonment.
Fernando Schahin: convicted of active corruption. He had been sentenced to 5 years and 4 months but was acquitted by the court;
Nestor Cerveró: convicted of passive corruption. His sentence was reduced from 6 years and 8 months to 6 years, 1 month, and 10 days. He made a plea bargain and is serving his sentence according to its terms.
João Vaccari Neto: convicted of passive corruption. The sentence was upheld at 6 years and 8 months imprisonment.
Fernando Falcão Soares: convicted of passive corruption. His sentence was reduced from 6 years to 5 years, 6 months, and 20 days. He made a plea bargain and must serve his sentence according to its terms.