Brazilian police extend Car Wash graft probe

[RIO DE JANEIRO] Brazilian police on Friday announced two new phases of their Car Wash anti-corruption probe into alleged graft, misappropriation of public funds and money laundering through the hiring of large companies by Petroleo Brasileiro.

According to a statement, police are probing links between shipping companies and Petrobras executives that allegedly allowed the businesses to obtain privileged information and favored treatment to win multi-million dollar contracts from the state-controlled oil giant.

Authorities are also seeking to dismantle a criminal group allegedly led by a former congressman, whose influence was used buy a foreign company to obtain Petrobras contracts, the police said, without offering further details.

REUTERS