The News
Friday 29 of March 2024

Brazil Builder Odebrecht Latest Target in Corruption Probe


The headquarters of Odebrecht SA is pictured in Sao Paulo
The headquarters of Odebrecht SA is pictured in Sao Paulo
Prosecutors in the case have alleged that businesses paid more than $2 billion in bribes to obtain contracts with the oil company, projects that later ballooned in cost

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian officials say they’ve carried out searches and detentions across the country linked to the huge Odebrecht construction company as part of their probe into corruption at the state-run oil giant Petrobras.

Prosecutors say Odebrecht had a specific sector in charge of illicit payouts. Officials said Tuesday the so-called “structured operations sector” continued to operate even after the corruption probe began two years ago.

Prosecutors in the case have alleged that businesses paid more than $2 billion in bribes to obtain contracts with the oil company, projects that later ballooned in cost.