Workers' Party marketing man convicted in Operation Car Wash

In a decision made Thursday (Feb. 2) as part of Operation Car Wash, Federal Judge Sergio Moro sentenced former Workers' Party (PT) marketing man João Santana to eight years in jail for the crimes of money laundering. Ad woman Mônica Moura, Santana's wife, received the same sentence for the same wrongdoing.

The sentence handed down to Mônica Moura and João Santana says that “money laundering was specially sophisticated, with the creation of an off-shore and its use in the opening of at least one secret account overseas, for pocketing and concealing the fruits of corruption. A contract was also forged in a bid to bring it under the guise of compliance with the law.”

Also convicted were engineer Zwi Skornicki (active corruption, money laundering, criminal conspiracy), former PT treasurer João Vaccari Neto (passive corruption), former Petrobras General Manager for International Affairs Eduardo Musa (passive corruption, criminal conspiracy), and former Seven Brasil director João Carlos Ferraz (passive corruption, criminal organization). Of these, three had their sentence alleviated through a plea bargain deal. Only Vaccari Neto gave up his right as laid out by law.

According to reports filed by federal prosecutors, Zwi Zkornicki transferred funds to Mônica Moura and João Santana through foreign-held accounts under the names of off-shore firms not declared to Brazilian authorities, in such a way as to hinder the identification of the illicit operation as well as the names of the individuals in charge of the accounts. The operation was deemed money laundering.

The report mentions the transfer of $4.5 million to João Santana and Mônica Moura for crimes committed directly against Petrobras. This amount derives from a larger value directed at the PT for participation in the scheme.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira