MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Rousseff pledges that Petrobras corruption case “will change the country forever”
The arrests include top executives of companies which had contracts with Petrobras. President Rousseff chaired the board of Petrobras from 2003 to 2010. 
Petrobras, majority-owned by the Brazilian government, is one of the largest oil businesses in the world with interests in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff said investigations into corruption at the state-owned oil company, Petrobras, could change the country forever. This was the first time she spoke since the arrest on Friday of 23 people suspected of corruption and money-laundering.
“It is a symbolic case for Brazil,” she said. “This will change forever the relationship between Brazilian society, the Brazilian state and private companies.”
The arrests include top executives of companies which had contracts with Petrobras. President Rousseff chaired the board of Petrobras from 2003 to 2010.
President Rousseff said all agreements between Petrobras and a handful of large construction companies which acted as contractors for Petrobras would be investigated.
She pledged the investigation would target individuals rather than Petrobras as a company.
Petrobras, which is majority-owned by the Brazilian government, is one of the largest oil businesses in the world with interests in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
The investigation began earlier this year when a former executive, Paulo Roberto Costa, alleged that one of its departments paid millions of dollars in bribes to politicians, including members of the governing Workers Party.
Costa, who was arrested in March, has alleged that the refinery division of the company operated a fund that diverted money to political parties.
The resulting probe, codenamed “Car Wash”, has led to raids in Parana, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Pernambuco, as well as Brasilia.
The scandal surrounding Petrobras was a sensitive issue for President Rousseff in last month's presidential election. She was forced to admit there was evidence of wrongdoing at the company and has promised to try to reimburse Brazilians for the public money that was taken.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
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Read all commentsPre Election: ( Happy, smiling faces )
Nov 18th, 2014 - 11:10 am 0“ The allegations in Veja are fictitious lies, created by the right-wing opposition.
Don't believe them .”
Post Election:(Long faces, uncertain of what is happening to those arrested )
“ We are assisting with the investigation.”
“ This investigation will change Brasil.. ”
“ I'm feeling dizzy again. ”
Soon to come:( Bugged eyed, terrified look of absolute panic )
“ I never saw any money myself ”
“ I said I never saw any money. I can't remember if I ever heard anything ”
“ I never really wanted to be a member of the PT ”
“ Mr. Joe Biden, can I come to Washington, please ? I will do anything ”
” (in a weak voice )............... help, !!!! ”
“It is a symbolic case for Brazil,” Dilma said. “This will change forever the relationship between Brazilian society, the Brazilian state and private companies.”
Nov 18th, 2014 - 04:16 pm 0I don't know what the Brazilian society, as a whole, has to do with this corruption, as the benefits of such acts (of corruption) only reach those in Government and and some top executives in a few private companies.
What HAS to change, is the relationship between Government and the State companies..IF Petrobrás were privatised - just 51 %, to avoid the government from interfering - there would be no reason to bribe anyone.....the company , besides performing it's mission with regards to the clients / consumers, would work to make a profit and remunerate it's shareholders...as any normal company should do. As it is, Government controlled, it's just a nest of corrupt politicians, and executives appointed by them, who manipulate the company to attend their own dark objectives.
Rousseff has started off in the right direction!! If it weren't for government involvement in such a cash cow only a few people would reap the rewards of the oil industry. Oil is a national asset that belongs to the whole of the people not the few. Look at the stock markets on a world basis, private, yet every few years some of the crooks get nabbed at the expense of hundreds of thousands of pensioners. And those are the ones that get caught.
Nov 18th, 2014 - 08:34 pm 0Good for you Rousseff, muito obrigao.
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