Petrobras scandal seen as a chance for Brazil to confront endemic corruption

Rio De Janeiro

ON the surface it could not be much worse for Brazil. With the economy faltering, its cherished government-controlled oil company Petrobras spiralled into a US$3.8 billion corruption scandal just as it was finally ramping up production in its vast deep water reserves.

Since the unfolding corruption investigation became public in March, charges have been filed against 91 people, including executives from Petrobras and some of Brazil's biggest construction and engineering companies. And it's not over. On Friday the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper was the latest publication to name politicians it said were linked to the scheme.