Foreign authorities called in to hear witnesses in Petrobras probe

Federal Judge Sérgio Moro, who presides over the probe into a large kickback scam in Petrobras, asked authorities from South Korea, the Netherlands, the Cayman Islands and Japan to hear five witnesses named by the defense of Fernando Soares, known as Fernando “Baiano”. The cooperation was requested based on the UN Convention against Corruption, and both Baiano's defense and the judge are interested in hearing the witnesses.

The names pointed out by Baiano are Harris Lee and J. W. Kin, respectively the vice president and president of Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd. (South Korea); Claudio Castejon, director of Petrobras International Braspetro BV (the Netherlands); Yasuyuki Fujitani, director of Japan Drilling Investment (Cayman Islands); and Ishiro Inagaki, whose corporate affiliation was not specified (Japan).

Baiano, who is jailed as a result of the investigations into the case (dubbed by Brazil's Federal Police “Operation Car Wash”), is accused of asking for kickbacks to broker the purchase of equipment for Petrobras. His lawyers denied the alleged illegal dealings with Petrobras, and Baiano denies having links with Brazil's government-allied PMDB party.

But in his plea bargain statement, currency dealer Alberto Youssef said Baiano collected kickback money for PMDB through contracts with Petrobras.

Translated by Mayra Borges