MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
The former treasurer of Brazil’s ruling party and a former official for the state-run oil company Petrobras have been sentenced for their roles in what authorities have said is the largest corruption scheme ever uncovered there.
João Vaccari, who was the treasurer of Brazil’s Workers party, was found guilty of taking at least $1 million in bribes between 2008 and 2012, according to a Sept. 21 article in The Guardian.
|
|
| By Roosewelt Pinheiro/Abr / CC BY 3.0br via Wikimedia Commons |
|
João Vaccari, the treasurer of Brazil’s Workers party, was found guilty of taking at least $1 million in bribes between 2008 and 2012. He will spend 15 years in prison for his role in the Petrobras scandal. |
Vaccari was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the kickback scandal, the news source said.
Also sentenced was Renato Duque, who got more than 20 years on corruption charges. According to The Guardian, Duque—who was the former head of corporate services for Petrobras, also known as Petroleo Brasileiro—was responsible for providing Vaccari with cash.
Trail of Bribes
The news source also said Duque took $9 million in bribes in exchange for helping construction and engineering firms win inflated contracts with Petrobras.
As previously reported, several participating companies overcharged Petrobras for contracts, split the take with certain Petrobras officials and also used that money to persuade politicians to “provide cover” for the activity.
One of those companies—Camargo Correa—agreed to cooperate in the investigation and pay what amounted to a US $29.7 million fine in exchange for a reduced penalty and assurances that further investigations into its administration would be dropped.
 |
| By Marcello Casal Jr/ABr / CC BY 3.0br via Wikimedia Commons |
|
According to The Guardian, more than 50 sitting congressmen and other top political officials have been under investigation for their roles in the scheme. |
According to The Guardian, more than 50 sitting congressmen and other top political officials have been under investigation for their roles in the scheme.
Prosecutors have said at least $2 billion in bribes were paid over a decade, according to The Guardian. Most of the bribes were from construction and engineering firms to Petrobras executives who, in return, awarded those companies with inflated contracts for building refineries; drilling platforms; and ships.
Corruption to the Top
Vaccari’s arrest in April brought the scandal closer to Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff. As previously reported, Rousseff had served as the board chairwoman for Petrobras.
Alberto Youssef, who was identified as being at the center of the operation, previously said that Rousseff was aware of the cartel’s activities. However, according to The Guardian, Rousseff has not been charged with any crimes and she has maintained her innocence.
Both Vaccari and Duque can appeal their sentences but will remain in prison while those appeals play out in court.
Tagged categories: Criminal acts; Government; Government contracts; Marine; Oil and Gas; Program/Project Management
