Odebrecht protected in Panama

CIVIL SOCIETY and politicians have  called  for an ‘immediate’ investigation into   revelations of Marcelo Odebrecht, former CEO of the construction company Odebrecht, that evidence of bribes to  Brazilian president Lula da Silva was hidden in Odebrecht Panama.

Marcelo Odebrecht is “revealing all” in his attempt  to reduce his near 20-year jail term  in the ‘Lava Jato’ process.

He has told prosecutors  that he hid in the Panama subsidiary the evidence that would betray the more than $ 2 million in “coima”(bribes) that ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was  paid.

Groups have demanded  immediate actions by the Public Ministry
“If in 2015 Marcelo Odebrecht makes the decision to send that information to Panama, he knows something that you and I do not know.

“As a citizen I would like explanations from the Public Ministry, “said Ramón Ricardo Arias, president of the Foundation for Citizen’s Freedom, a Panamanian chapter of Transparency International (TI).
Pirate refuge

“We are a refuge for pirates, and  ruffians, because this did not happen in 2013 [with Ricardo Martinelli as president], this happened in 2015 [with Juan Carlos Varela] … It is important for people to know that Marcelo Odebrecht felt protected in Panama “He added.
Panammenista deputy José Antonio Domínguez indicated that not letting the  reality known “will demonstrate that there is complicity on the part of those who have the power to make this truth known.”

The MP, through a spokesperson, said that tomorrow they would give information about a process to Odebrecht, but did not say  if ex officio investigations will be opened after the new confession, reports La Prensa.