Off the wire
• Albania to strengthen tax audits in tourist hotspots  • Firefighters struggling to put out fires along Croatian coast  • Roundup: U.S. stocks decline on profit taking  • First World Food Programme ship carrying aid arrives in Yemeni port  • Chicago wheat extends losses as export condition worsen; corn, soybeans rebound  • 1st LD Writethru: U.S. stocks decline on profit taking  • Over 1,000 cholera cases reported in South Sudan: WHO  • Albania to intensify crackdown on organized crime  • Ireland's goods exports up 8 pct in May  • Civilians continue to flee insecurity in Nigeria  
You are here: 　 Home

Portugal to help probe Brazil's scandal linked to oil giant Petrobras

Xinhua, July 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Portugal will help probe Brazil's major scandal involving state-run oil company Petrobras, following a request from Brazilian authorities, Portugal's prosecutor general said in a statement on Tuesday.

Petrobras' directors have been accused of taking bribes and funnelling funds to Brazil's ruling parties, leading already to several criminal charges. Brazil's largest builder Odebrecht is one of the companies being investigated over accusations of fixing prices and overcharging Petrobras.

The Portuguese prosecutor general's statement added that the letter of request came a day after Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho denied claims that former Brazil President Lula da Silva had lobbied him to favor Odebrecht in a privatization process.

Brazil's public prosecutor announced on Thursday last week that an investigation involving former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had been launched on his alleged peddling influence in favor of Odebrecht.

Lula was allegedly involved in the Economic and Social Development Bank's decision to give loans to Odebrecht after his term in office ended in 2010. Endit