Brazil’s Petrobras scandal claims two more scalps – a billionaire and a politician

[webfact]

Brazil’s Petrobras scandal claims two more scalps – a billionaire and a politician



SAO PAULO: -- Two major figures in Brazilian politics and finance have been arrested as part of the sweeping corruption probe into state oil giant Petrobras.

Senator Delcídio do Amaral, who is the leader of the governing Workers Party in the Senate and Billionaire Andre Esteves who is Brazil’s 13th richest man. Both are accused of obstructing the course of the investigation. Their arrest has caused shock waves through the capital.

“I think that today a new door opens in the battle against corruption. It shows that no one is untouchable, and that some people who previously robbed this country fearlessly must now have more respect towards the people,” said one Brasilia resident.

Although President and former Petrobras Chair Dilma Rousseff has not been implicated directly in the scandal she is under pressure by association and questions over the extent of her knowledge. The accusations of bribery date back to her time at the oil company.

More than 100 people have been arrested in the two year probe which has caused political gridlock and obstructed economic policy . Brazilians fed up with the extent of the graft have long been calling for the President and the government to quit.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-11-26

[shirtless]

Why am i not surprised it seems like politicians the world over are corrupt in some way,

[JoePai]

He looks like a Bond villain

[deepcell]

I hope that all Esteve's family suffer and be arrested as well. Rot in jail piece of *h*t!

[SOTIRIOS]

...to pretend that only 2-3 people are involved in a ruse of gobal magnitude is infantile...

...same goes for so many of the bank and financial institution 'incidents'....

[Doc46]

It seems no matter where you are in the world, there are people in power and some with lots of money,They are not happy they are just greedy criminals,They want more power they want more money.

[bendejo]

There's a guy named Eike Batista, he went from wealthy to enormously wealthy when Brazil discovered a very large oil reserve off its coast in the previous decade. Then it turned out the oil wasn't there. This guy went from billionaire to pocket lint that day. I suspect whatever he had left is being spent on lawyers.

Here's a piece of the Charlie Rose interview from 2010, before the oil reserve was revealed as a fraud. This guy's manner has to be seen to be believed. Don't be put off by the title, the interview is in English.

Edited November 26, 2015 by bendejo

[Si Thea01]

...to pretend that only 2-3 people are involved in a ruse of gobal magnitude is infantile...

...same goes for so many of the bank and financial institution 'incidents'....

Am I reading the same article. It says that over 100 people have been arrrested arrested so far in the two year probe. So who's pretending that only 2-3 people are involved. Might help if you read the entire article.

[kbelyeu]

This goes all the way to the president but I am sure she will skate any charges. This has basically screwed the Brazilian people out of their lively hoods.

Kurt

[exbikey]

I say lucky old Brazil. At least they have the guts to go after and arrest politicians and the rich allegedly involved in corruption of state run entities, not like some countries I know of. Bravo.

[islandguy]

This goes all the way to the president but I am sure she will skate any charges. This has basically screwed the Brazilian people out of their lively hoods.

Kurt

Perhaps it will keep them in their all too lively 'hoods, the favelas, instead of getting a chance to move into better neighborhoods