State prosecutors in Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) plan to indict former Petrobras chief executive José Sergio Gabrielli on corruption charges, the latest development in an expanding corruption scandal at the state-controlled company.
The prosecutor's action is based on allegations of overpricing for construction works related to Petrobras' Rio-based research and development center (Cenpes) and the company's data processing center (CIPD).
Prosecutors have already filed a claim in state court requesting a freeze on Gabrielli's assets and access to his private financial records. Gabrielli, the current planning secretary for Bahia state, was not immediately available to comment.
Gabrielli was Petrobras´ longest serving chief executive, running the company from 2005 to 2012.
Similar requests were made for several current and former Petrobras employees and executives. Among them, Petrobras' former engineering and services Renato Duque, who was arrested by federal police last month for his alleged involvement in the kickback and bribery scheme at the firm.
Petrobras was not immediately available to comment.
The prosecutor's case against Gabrielli names Brazilian construction firm Andrade Gutierrez as the counterparty to the overpriced contracts. The company says it has yet to receive notice of the action, but "reiterates that all company's contracts with Petrobras were carried out within legal hiring processes and denies any irregularity."
Gabrielli is the third former Petrobras executive to face criminal charges related to a widening probe into alleged widespread corruption.
Last week, Paulo Roberto Costa, the company's former downstream director, was charged with corruption and money laundering offences by federal prosecutors. As part of a plea deal, Costa has provided details of a massive kickback scheme involving the country's biggest engineering and construction firms and top-ranking politicians.
Yesterday, federal prosecutors also charged Nestor Cerveró, who was fired in March from his position as president of Petrobras´ distribution subsidiary, for his alleged role in the scheme. Cerveró denies any wrongdoing.
Petrobras´ current chief executive Maria das Gracas Foster, who replaced Gabrielli in 2012, is under growing pressure to step down as the multifaceted corruption scandal continues to drag on the company´s share price. She has denied any knowledge of or involvement in the scandal.
Petrobras has delayed issuing its unaudited third-quarter results because of the ongoing investigations. The company issued condensed, mostly operational results late on 12 December.
The corruption investigations, which include a probe by the US securities and commodities commission (SEC), financial reporting delays that limit Petrobras´ 2015 financing options and the potential for hefty fines seem likely to force the company to cut its $220.6bn 2014-19 business plan.
The plan is anchored on developing Brazil´s vast sub-salt deposits offshore.
nw/pg
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