The Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, for its acronym in English) of the United States is offering a reward of up to $5 million to anyone who offers information on the beneficiaries of the bribes paid by the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and its subsidiary Braskem , SA
The reward applies to any person with information that allows the seizure, forfeiture or repatriation of money or property acquired with bribes, that are in a US bank or financial institution or within the United States, or that are in the possession of a US citizen.
The information can be shared by calling +1 (212) 622-2050 or writing to the email [email protected]corresponding to the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program, managed by the United States Department of the Treasury.
It is interesting to note that when Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder $28 million in Odebrecht bribes before a federal judge in New York, the Department of Justice issued separate statements. The reference to Luis Enrique was published first, on November 15, 2021, the same day that the hearing with Judge Raymond Dearie was held. That of Ricardo Alberto was disclosed on December 14, also at the conclusion of his hearing with Judge Dearie. In the final part of both communiqués, the Department of Justice transcribed the following: “Anyone who has information on economic gains that are protected or have passed through the United States financial system must communicate with federal agents by email. [email protected]”.
The sentence of the two sons of former President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal will be announced next May. Meanwhile, Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto remain detained in a prison in Brooklyn.
In New York, in December 2016, also before Judge Dearie, Odebrecht and Braskem confessed to having paid bribes in several countries, in exchange for being awarded public works contracts, and agreed to pay a fine of $3.5 billion, to be divided between the United States, Switzerland and Brazil. Specifically, the companies recognized that time having paid $59 million to Panamanian politicians and officials, between 2010 and 2014.
The Treasury Department also offers a reward for information that allows locating assets or money in the United States, linked to acts of corruption by the Russian government and the Malaysian Sovereign Fund.
