Lava Jato indicts Palocci and Guido Mantega

Brazil Agency - The task force of investigators from Operation Lava Jato presented today (10) to the Justice Department a complaint against former Finance Ministers Antônio Palocci and Guido Mantega for the crimes of active and passive corruption and money laundering. Executives from the construction company Odebrecht and advertising executives Mônica Moura and João Santana were also indicted.

According to the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF), three former directors of the company offered illicit advantages to former ministers to help in the drafting of a provisional measure of interest to the company. According to the investigation, R$ 50 million was made available in an account belonging to the company's bribery department, which was at the disposal of the accused. Part of this amount was allegedly passed on to advertising executives to be used in the 2014 election campaign.

"During the investigations, it was proven that, throughout the years 2008 and 2010, there was intense negotiation between Marcelo Odebrecht and, successively, Antônio Palocci and Guido Mantega, for the enactment of a provisional measure that would benefit the companies of the Odebrecht group and allow the resolution of the group's tax issues. The objective of the legislative maneuver was to allow the payment of federal taxes owed in installments, with a reduction in fines, as well as their offsetting with tax losses," says the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office.