Odebrecht under investigation by Swiss justice
Marcelo Odebrech, president of the construction firm, who is in jail.
Swiss attorney general spokesman, Nathalie Guth, confirmed that they are investigating suspicious transactions in which firms belonging to the construction firm Odebrecht have deposited kickback money in s from former directors of Petrobras.
Although invesgations are at an early stage, according to the Swiss justice representative, there are indications that “the Swiss financial system has been seriously affected by the scandal” of corruption. She reiterated that the repercussions of the scandal have scaped over the Brazilian borders, involving many Brazilian people and companies that have made suspicious transactions in s in Switzerland.
In statement, Odebrecht claims to be “natural” the proceedings held in Switzerland. To the firm, the search for information from Swiss authorities is a consequence of the “great repercussion of the issue in Brazil, due to the leak of information with erroneous and decontextualized interpretations.” The firm declares to have an interest in clarifying the matter and reaffirms its intention to cooperate with Brazilian and foreign authorities.
Petrobras investigation – widened now – was launched in Switzerland in April, 2014. Due to the investigation, 300 s in Swiss banks associated to Operation Car Wash have been identified. According to authorities, they have been used to move millions of dollars. This year in March, Swiss authorities have blocked $400 million from these companies and people.
About $120 million of the total amount blocked have been repatriated to Brazil. Of this amount, $29 million were in bank s in the name of the former Petrobras director, Pedro José Barusco Filho. According to the public prosecutor Renato Silva de Oliveira, the amount that has been blocked is related to kickback money paid in deviated contracts analysed by the Federal Police, in Operation Car Wash.
* With additional information by Radio Internationale
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: Odebrecht is under investigation by Swiss justice
