67th phase of Lava Jato accuses Grupo Techint – one of the main shareholders of Usiminas, for corrupt practices at Petrobras

Executives and agents linked to the Techint group were denounced this Thursday (04/06) by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) in Paraná, citing payment of undue advantages to the former Petrobras services director, Renato Duque. The complaint involves 11 people. The first of four ships contracted by Petrobras to increase oil flow capacity left South Korea this day (4/6)

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The benefits paid, which according to the MPF amount to US$10 million, involve “crimes committed in the interest of contracts entered into between Confab Industrial, a company of the aforementioned economic group, and Petrobras between 2007 and 2010”.

According to the MPF, the Techint Group, one of the main shareholders of Usiminas, "not only repeatedly paid amounts to Brazilian public agents to obtain contracts for the provision of services and supply of products, notably large diameter pipes and related services, but these payments also influenced Petrobras' international business policy".

The MPF started the 67th phase of Lava Jato at the end of October, to investigate executives from the Techint group, at the time the operation involved 23 search and seizure warrants in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Prosecutors allege that the group obtained contracts for works at the Landulpho Alves refinery, in Bahia, at the Rio de Janeiro Petrochemical Complex (Comperj) and at Gasduc III, between 2007 and 2010, all belonging to Petrobras.

According to the Federal Public Ministry, these contracts totaled more than 3,3 billion reais.

"The scheme involved many agents and went beyond the mere criminal practice of corrupting public agents, directly affecting Petrobras' business policy, corrupting the proper bidding process and the guarantee of broad competition, fundamental when it comes to large public contracts," said attorney Marcelo Ribeiro de Oliveira in a statement.

So far, the Techint Group has not issued a statement.