US and Brazilian authorities have fined Brazil's state oil giant Petrobras more than $853 million for covering up bribes to Brazilian politicians and political parties, the US Justice Department announced Thursday.

Petrobras executives at "the highest levels," including board members, orchestrated hundreds of millions in bribes "and then cooked the books to conceal the bribe payments from investors and regulators," US Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski said in a statement.

Brazilian authorities will receive 80 per cent of the fine, with the remainder will be collected by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The actions the company admitted to occurred while Petrobras was traded on the New York Stock Exchange, giving US authorities jurisdiction over the alleged crimes, the Justice Department said.&nbsp;

Prosecutors say a Petrobras executive directed payments to stop a Brazilian parliamentary inquiry into company contracts.

The executive also allegedly funneled bribes from company contractors into the campaign of an unnamed Brazilian politician who had power over where Petrobras could build refineries.&nbsp;

Petrobras admitted some executives funneled payments to politicians and political parties, and that the company failed to keep accurate books and records about property and equipment, as required by law.

Executives also falsely certified Petrobras financial statements to the US Securities and Exchange Commission even while they were personally involved in the bribery.

"According to Petrobras's admissions ... members of the Petrobras Executive Board were involved in facilitating and directing millions of dollars in corrupt payments to politicians and political parties in Brazil, and members of Petrobras's Board of Directors were also involved in facilitating bribes that a major Petrobras contractor was paying to Brazilian politicians," the statement said.&nbsp;

As part of the agreement announced Thursday, Petrobras agreed to continue cooperating with in any continuing investigations into the matter, including actions taken by individuals, and to make changes to its internal compliance program.

The settlement announced Thursday involved a "non-prosecution agreement," meaning no charges will be brought against the company. Prosecutors may separately take action against individuals.

More than 40 countries including the United States have criminalized paying bribes abroad to win business, which authorities say defrauds investors while promoting corruption and political instability.

In a related matter, Petrobras agreed to pay $933.5 million to the SEC to return ill-gotten gains, but this sum will be reduced by the amount of any payments made in a class action lawsuit by investors filed in New York.

US and Brazilian authorities have fined Brazil's state oil giant Petrobras more than $853 million for covering up bribes to Brazilian politicians and political parties, the US Justice Department announced Thursday.

US and Brazilian authorities have fined Brazil's state oil giant Petrobras more than $853 million for covering up bribes to Brazilian politicians and political parties, the US Justice Department announced Thursday. Petrobras executives at "the highest levels," including board members, orchestrated hundreds of millions in bribes "and then cooked the books to conceal the bribe payments from investors and regulators," US Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski said in a statement. Brazilian authorities will receive 80 per cent of the fine, with the remainder will be collected by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actions the company admitted to occurred while Petrobras was traded on the New York Stock Exchange, giving US authorities jurisdiction over the alleged crimes, the Justice Department said. Prosecutors say a Petrobras executive directed payments to stop a Brazilian parliamentary inquiry into company contracts. The executive also allegedly funneled bribes from company contractors into the campaign of an unnamed Brazilian politician who had power over where Petrobras could build refineries. Petrobras admitted some executives funneled payments to politicians and political parties, and that the company failed to keep accurate books and records about property and equipment, as required by law. Executives also falsely certified Petrobras financial statements to the US Securities and Exchange Commission even while they were personally involved in the bribery. "According to Petrobras's admissions ... members of the Petrobras Executive Board were involved in facilitating and directing millions of dollars in corrupt payments to politicians and political parties in Brazil, and members of Petrobras's Board of Directors were also involved in facilitating bribes that a major Petrobras contractor was paying to Brazilian politicians," the statement said. As part of the agreement announced Thursday, Petrobras agreed to continue cooperating with in any continuing investigations into the matter, including actions taken by individuals, and to make changes to its internal compliance program. The settlement announced Thursday involved a "non-prosecution agreement," meaning no charges will be brought against the company. Prosecutors may separately take action against individuals. More than 40 countries including the United States have criminalized paying bribes abroad to win business, which authorities say defrauds investors while promoting corruption and political instability. In a related matter, Petrobras agreed to pay $933.5 million to the SEC to return ill-gotten gains, but this sum will be reduced by the amount of any payments made in a class action lawsuit by investors filed in New York.

US, Brazil fine Petrobras $853 million in bribery scandal

Sri Lanka has passed a new bill to establish courts to speedily try cases related to corruption and bribery as the government today vowed to reducing legal delays amid people's demand to deliver quick justice.

The Sri Lankan Parliament voted 119-52 to create high courts that would deal with the massive backlog of cases. Only the Joint Oppositon members voted against the bill who dubbed the move as one to target the government's political opponents.&nbsp

The government, on the other hand, vowed that all involved for graft would be expeditiously dealt with.

"We are committed to reducing legal delays and bringing people guilty of corruption to justice much quicker," Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said, referring to the passing of the Judicature Amendment Bill last night.

Many of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's family members and close associates face legal charges and some of them are currently on bail having been arrested for alleged misdeeds when in power.

Rajapaksa's new party won the February's local election and one of the reasons for the dissatisfaction of the voters with the current government was that investigations against the corrupt have been too slow with none of them being convicted.&nbsp

There were even accusations that political deals between the Rajapaksas and certain government officials had caused the slowdown of cases.

President Maithripala Sirisena came to power in 2015 with the promise to stamp out corruption.&nbsp

The Sri Lankan Parliament voted 119-52 to create high courts that would deal with the massive backlog of cases related to corruption and bribery

Sri Lanka has passed a new bill to establish courts to speedily try cases related to corruption and bribery as the government today vowed to reducing legal delays amid people's demand to deliver quick justice. The Sri Lankan Parliament voted 119-52 to create high courts that would deal with the massive backlog of cases. Only the Joint Oppositon members voted against the bill who dubbed the move as one to target the government's political opponents. The government, on the other hand, vowed that all involved for graft would be expeditiously dealt with. "We are committed to reducing legal delays and bringing people guilty of corruption to justice much quicker," Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said, referring to the passing of the Judicature Amendment Bill last night. Many of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's family members and close associates face legal charges and some of them are currently on bail having been arrested for alleged misdeeds when in power. Rajapaksa's new party won the February's local election and one of the reasons for the dissatisfaction of the voters with the current government was that investigations against the corrupt have been too slow with none of them being convicted. There were even accusations that political deals between the Rajapaksas and certain government officials had caused the slowdown of cases. President Maithripala Sirisena came to power in 2015 with the promise to stamp out corruption.

Sri Lanka vows to quicken corruption trials with new courts

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen will lift a 45-day state of emergency on Thursday and the government will bring bribery charges against former leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the chief justice, said a senior Maldives diplomat.

Yameen imposed a state of emergency on Feb. 5 for 15 days to annul a Feb. 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition.

Under the emergency, Yameen&#39;s administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges.

&quot;Unless something unusual happens, we should not have emergency by Thursday,&quot; Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Maldives Ambassador for Sri Lanka told a Foreign Correspondents Association forum on Monday.

&quot;The government has no intention of extending it any further barring very unusual circumstances like widespread violence. The intention is to do away with this state of emergency when the current 30 day period expires on March 22.&quot;

Shareef said bribery charges against Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed have been sent to the prosecutor general and that bribery charges will also be brought against former president Gayoom and Supreme Court administrator Hassan Sayeed.

&quot;That is definite. We know that charges will be pressed against the four of them,&rdquo; Shareef said.

Gayoom is accused of bribing the three legal professionals to overthrow the Yameen government.

Despite opposition claims that hundreds of people have been arrested under the state of emergency, Shareef said only 38 had been arrested so far while others were &quot;detained and released&quot;.

Maldives police told Reuters on Saturday that at least 139 opposition protesters were arrested as they attempted to defy orders under the state of emergency and march into the high security zone in capital Male.

When asked if any foreign agent or country had a role in the Maldives crisis, Shareef said: &quot;For my knowledge, the investigations at the moment are focused on local actors only&quot;.

Rights group Amnesty International has said the Maldivian government was using the emergency &quot;as a licence for repression, targeting members of civil society, judges and political opponents&quot;.

Yameen&#39;s government retains a majority in parliament in the absence of the opposition&#39;s 12 MPs who were stripped of their seats by Yameen&#39;s party for defecting last year.

A senior Maldives diplomat said the 45-day state of emergency would be lifted Thursday

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen will lift a 45-day state of emergency on Thursday and the government will bring bribery charges against former leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the chief justice, said a senior Maldives diplomat. Yameen imposed a state of emergency on Feb. 5 for 15 days to annul a Feb. 1 Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He later extended the state of emergency for another 30 days with parliament approval, a move challenged by the opposition. Under the emergency, Yameen's administration arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge, and a Supreme Court administrator on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government. They have all rejected the charges. "Unless something unusual happens, we should not have emergency by Thursday," Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Maldives Ambassador for Sri Lanka told a Foreign Correspondents Association forum on Monday. "The government has no intention of extending it any further barring very unusual circumstances like widespread violence. The intention is to do away with this state of emergency when the current 30 day period expires on March 22." Shareef said bribery charges against Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed have been sent to the prosecutor general and that bribery charges will also be brought against former president Gayoom and Supreme Court administrator Hassan Sayeed. "That is definite. We know that charges will be pressed against the four of them,” Shareef said. Gayoom is accused of bribing the three legal professionals to overthrow the Yameen government. Despite opposition claims that hundreds of people have been arrested under the state of emergency, Shareef said only 38 had been arrested so far while others were "detained and released". Maldives police told Reuters on Saturday that at least 139 opposition protesters were arrested as they attempted to defy orders under the state of emergency and march into the high security zone in capital Male. When asked if any foreign agent or country had a role in the Maldives crisis, Shareef said: "For my knowledge, the investigations at the moment are focused on local actors only". Rights group Amnesty International has said the Maldivian government was using the emergency "as a licence for repression, targeting members of civil society, judges and political opponents". Yameen's government retains a majority in parliament in the absence of the opposition's 12 MPs who were stripped of their seats by Yameen's party for defecting last year.

Maldives to lift state of emergency, charge ex-president, chief justice with bribery

South Korean prosecutors on Tuesday sought a 30-year jail term for former President Park Geun-hye who was ousted last year amid an influence-peddling scandal that rocked the country&#39;s business and political elite.

Park was dismissed in March after being impeached and is standing trial on charges of bribery, abuse of power and coercion. She denies wrongdoing.

Park Geun-hye is standing trial on charges of bribery, abuse of power and coercion

South Korean prosecutors on Tuesday sought a 30-year jail term for former President Park Geun-hye who was ousted last year amid an influence-peddling scandal that rocked the country's business and political elite. Park was dismissed in March after being impeached and is standing trial on charges of bribery, abuse of power and coercion. She denies wrongdoing.

South Korean prosecutors seek 30-year jail term for former President Park Geun-Hye

German prosecutors today said Airbus had agreed to pay a fine of 81.25 million euros (USD 99 million) to settle a corruption probe into the 2003 sale of Eurofighter jets to Austria.

The investigation did not find evidence of bribery to secure the lucrative contract, the Munich prosecutors said in a statement.

But they said Airbus had failed it its supervisory duty by allowing former management to make multi-million-euro payments linked to the deal for &quot;unclear purposes&quot;.

The European aircraft manufacturer said in its own statement it had accepted the fine, meaning that the probed first opened in 2012 &quot;has been terminated&quot;.

Authorities in Austria, however, are still investigating claims bribers were paid to land the two-billion-euro sale of 18 Eurofighter jets to Vienna, a deal long alleged to have been very shady.

The Austrian government last year also launched a lawsuit against Airbus, seeking up 1.1 billion euros in damages. It accuses the aircraft giant of deliberately hoodwinking Vienna over the order.

Current Airbus chief Tom Enders was head of the defense division of European Aeronautic Defence Space Company at the time the deal was struck.

The corruption probes in Germany and Austria, as well separate graft investigations in Britain and France, have long cast a pall over one of Europe&#39;s most successful and best-known companies.

Airbus announced in December that embattled Enders would not seek reappointment when his current term ends in April 2019.

The investigation did not find evidence of bribery to secure the lucrative contract, the Munich prosecutors said in a statement

German prosecutors today said Airbus had agreed to pay a fine of 81.25 million euros (USD 99 million) to settle a corruption probe into the 2003 sale of Eurofighter jets to Austria. The investigation did not find evidence of bribery to secure the lucrative contract, the Munich prosecutors said in a statement. But they said Airbus had failed it its supervisory duty by allowing former management to make multi-million-euro payments linked to the deal for "unclear purposes". The European aircraft manufacturer said in its own statement it had accepted the fine, meaning that the probed first opened in 2012 "has been terminated". Authorities in Austria, however, are still investigating claims bribers were paid to land the two-billion-euro sale of 18 Eurofighter jets to Vienna, a deal long alleged to have been very shady. The Austrian government last year also launched a lawsuit against Airbus, seeking up 1.1 billion euros in damages. It accuses the aircraft giant of deliberately hoodwinking Vienna over the order. Current Airbus chief Tom Enders was head of the defense division of European Aeronautic Defence Space Company at the time the deal was struck. The corruption probes in Germany and Austria, as well separate graft investigations in Britain and France, have long cast a pall over one of Europe's most successful and best-known companies. Airbus announced in December that embattled Enders would not seek reappointment when his current term ends in April 2019.

Airbus to pay 81 million euros to end German corruption probe

A former Indian American CEO of an IT company based in the US city of Detroit has been indicted for his alleged role in orchestrating a scheme to bribe a city official to obtain benefits, the Department of Justice said today.

According to the 11-count indictment filed in the Eastern District of Michigan, Parimal D Mehta, 54, made multiple cash payments to Charles Dodd, former Director of Detroit&#39;s Office of Departmental Technology Services between 2009 to 2016.

This included two cash bribes hand-delivered by Mehta to Dodd in the restrooms of Detroit-area restaurants in 2016, the DOJ alleged.

Mehta is also alleged to have employed Dodd&#39;s family members at FutureNet and its subsidiaries. Dodd previously pleaded guilty to bribery on September 27, 2016.

The indictment alleges that Mehta paid these bribes to Dodd in exchange for preferential treatment for his company, FutureNet, which received approximately USD 7.5 million from Detroit in 2015 and 2016.

According to the indictment, Mehta and FutureNet benefitted from Dodd&#39;s influence over the administration of city contracts, expenditures under those contracts, and the hiring and selection of contract personnel.

Mehta obtained confidential information about Detroit&#39;s internal budgets for specific technology projects, the indictment alleges.&nbsp;

A former Indian American CEO in Detroit has been indicted for his alleged role in orchestrating a scheme to bribe a city official

A former Indian American CEO of an IT company based in the US city of Detroit has been indicted for his alleged role in orchestrating a scheme to bribe a city official to obtain benefits, the Department of Justice said today. According to the 11-count indictment filed in the Eastern District of Michigan, Parimal D Mehta, 54, made multiple cash payments to Charles Dodd, former Director of Detroit's Office of Departmental Technology Services between 2009 to 2016. This included two cash bribes hand-delivered by Mehta to Dodd in the restrooms of Detroit-area restaurants in 2016, the DOJ alleged. Mehta is also alleged to have employed Dodd's family members at FutureNet and its subsidiaries. Dodd previously pleaded guilty to bribery on September 27, 2016. The indictment alleges that Mehta paid these bribes to Dodd in exchange for preferential treatment for his company, FutureNet, which received approximately USD 7.5 million from Detroit in 2015 and 2016. According to the indictment, Mehta and FutureNet benefitted from Dodd's influence over the administration of city contracts, expenditures under those contracts, and the hiring and selection of contract personnel. Mehta obtained confidential information about Detroit's internal budgets for specific technology projects, the indictment alleges.

Indian-American CEO indicted for bribery

South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday sought a 12-year jail term for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee on appeal after a lower court sentenced him to five years in August for bribery in a case that rocked the country.

The Seoul High Court is expected to rule on the case in late January. Lee, the 49-year-old heir to one of the world`s biggest corporate empires, has been detained since February on charges of corruption.&nbsp;

The 49-year-old Lee, who heads the largest conglomerate in the country, received a five-year jail term on August 25 on the conviction of five charges, including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas, Yonhap news agency reported. 
 
He was found guilty of providing $8.19 million in bribes to Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend and confidante of former President Park Geun-hye. 
 
Four former top Samsung executives -- Choi Gee-sung, former head of Samsung`s now-disbanded control tower Future Strategy Office; his former deputy Chang Choong-ki; Park Sang-jin, a former president of Samsung Electronics; and another former President Hwang Sung-soo -- were also convicted of similar charges and sentenced to four years in prison or suspended terms. They have all appealed the rulings.

Lee received a five-year jail term on August 25 on the conviction of five charges, including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas

South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday sought a 12-year jail term for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee on appeal after a lower court sentenced him to five years in August for bribery in a case that rocked the country. The Seoul High Court is expected to rule on the case in late January. Lee, the 49-year-old heir to one of the world`s biggest corporate empires, has been detained since February on charges of corruption. The 49-year-old Lee, who heads the largest conglomerate in the country, received a five-year jail term on August 25 on the conviction of five charges, including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas, Yonhap news agency reported. He was found guilty of providing $8.19 million in bribes to Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend and confidante of former President Park Geun-hye. Four former top Samsung executives -- Choi Gee-sung, former head of Samsung`s now-disbanded control tower Future Strategy Office; his former deputy Chang Choong-ki; Park Sang-jin, a former president of Samsung Electronics; and another former President Hwang Sung-soo -- were also convicted of similar charges and sentenced to four years in prison or suspended terms. They have all appealed the rulings.

South Korean prosecutors seek 12-year jail term for Samsung heir Lee

Guatemala&#39;s former football chief pleaded guilty in New York on Friday to racketeering and wire fraud conspiracies in connection with the unprecedented FIFA corruption scandal rocking world soccer. 
 
Brayan Jimenez, 62, negotiated and accepted bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in awarding media and marketing rights for his country&#39;s qualifier matches for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, prosecutors said. 
 
Jimenez, a former member of FIFA&#39;s Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility, agreed to forfeit $35,000. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count when sentenced, US officials said. 
 
Jimenez, who was detained in January in a disheveled and intoxicated state in a posh suburb of Guatemala City, was extradited to the United States in March. 
 
He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, which included corruption, money laundering, fraud and embezzlement, and was placed under house arrest after posting a $1.5 million bond, $75,000 of it in cash. 
 
US prosecutors in New York have indicted 40 football and sports marketing executives, including Jimenez, over allegedly receiving tens of millions of bribes and kickbacks in the largest corruption scandal in the history of soccer. 
 
More than a third have since pleaded guilty. None have yet been formally sentenced and a date is still pending to put the rest on trial. 
 
(AFP)

Brayan Jimenez agreed to forfeit $35,000 and faces a maximum sentence for 20 years for each count. He had initially pleaded not guilty

Guatemala's former football chief pleaded guilty in New York on Friday to racketeering and wire fraud conspiracies in connection with the unprecedented FIFA corruption scandal rocking world soccer. Brayan Jimenez, 62, negotiated and accepted bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in awarding media and marketing rights for his country's qualifier matches for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, prosecutors said. Jimenez, a former member of FIFA's Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility, agreed to forfeit $35,000. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for each count when sentenced, US officials said. Jimenez, who was detained in January in a disheveled and intoxicated state in a posh suburb of Guatemala City, was extradited to the United States in March. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, which included corruption, money laundering, fraud and embezzlement, and was placed under house arrest after posting a $1.5 million bond, $75,000 of it in cash. US prosecutors in New York have indicted 40 football and sports marketing executives, including Jimenez, over allegedly receiving tens of millions of bribes and kickbacks in the largest corruption scandal in the history of soccer. More than a third have since pleaded guilty. None have yet been formally sentenced and a date is still pending to put the rest on trial. (AFP)

Former Guatemalan football chief pleads guilty to FIFA corruption charges

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