Brazilian energy minister defends scandal-hit state oil campany CEO

Brazil's new Mining and Energy Minister Eduardo Braga said on Friday there was no reason to remove the head of state oil giant Petrobras, which has been embroiled in a major corruption scandal.

Braga said there was no evidence that Petrobras CEO Maria das Gracas Foster or her board of directors committed any wrongdoing, and Gracas Foster has not asked to be relieved from her post.

"In order to remove someone, there must be evidence. As far as I know, there is no reason to oust Gracas Foster or any other member of the board from their posts," the minister said.

That could change should someone provide proof of their involvement in the corruption scheme, but the government was not interested in "a witch hunt", Braga added.

"The men and women who work at Petrobras have invested their ... lives in defense of the (energy agency)," said Braga. "If there is any evidence, they have to step down, but let us not lynch people for something that does not exist."

Petrobras is under investigation for money laundering, bribery and kickbacks involving top executives of the firm and more than 20 construction companies with which it did business.

Some 23 companies have been barred from doing business with Petrobras. Endit