MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
More former Petrobras top officials arrested on money laundering investigation
Former services director Renato Duque, was arrested by Brazilian federal police at his house in Rio de Janeiro, TV Globo said, amid a new round of police operations (Pic: Estadão Conteudo) 
Brazil's federal police said in a Twitter message they were serving a 10th round of search and arrest warrants in the bribery investigation but gave no details of who was arrested. Brazilian police arrested a former Petrobras executive on Monday, in a broad kickback and money laundering investigation that has rattled some of the nation's biggest companies and political parties.
Former services director Renato Duque, who had already been detained for three weeks late last year as part of the so-called “Operation Car Wash”, was arrested by Brazilian federal police at his house in Rio de Janeiro, TV Globo said, amid a new round of police operations in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro aimed at arresting around 18 people linked to Petrobras scandal.
Brazil's federal police said in a Twitter message they were serving a 10th round of search and arrest warrants in the bribery investigation but gave no details of who was arrested.
The scandal's fallout has put political pressure on President Dilma Rousseff. On Sunday, it helped fuel massive street protests across Brazil against her administration.
It has also battered shares of Petrobras. Prosecutors say engineering and construction firms paid bribes to win Petrobras contracts, funneling a cut of the overcharged projects to executives, vendors and political parties, including Brazil's ruling Workers' Party.
Another former Petrobras executive jailed in the case, the ex-head of refining and supply Paulo Roberto Costa, struck a plea bargain deal last year, providing information that has led to the investigation of dozens of executives and politicians.
The corruption probe has so far led to 40 indictments on racketeering, bribery and money laundering charges. Those indicted include two former Petrobras senior managers and 23 executives from six of Brazil's leading construction and engineering firms.
Prosecutors have asked the Supreme Court to investigate 34 sitting politicians, including the speakers of both houses of Congress, for allegedly receiving bribe money.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
Read all commentsRenato Duque, who denied any wrongdoing , is now truly screwed. Even after the 'Car Wash' investigation was underway, he was trying to hide his ill-gotten gains by transferring millions of dollars to several different countries, in the attempt to hamper the prosecuters work. But too late, the money has been found - millions - it's been tracked through various accounts in several countries....and yet the corrupt idiot denies the money is his....well in this sense, he's right, it really isn't his, as he stole it ; but the fact he denies it's his, will just make it all the easier to repatriate it . He might even squeal on Lulla now, to save his ass.
Mar 17th, 2015 - 06:08 pm 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!