Witness security worry postpones Odebrecht plea deal
THE Thursday, April 16 public court hearing to validate cooperation plea deals with anti-corruption prosecutors in the Odebrecht bribery scandal has been postponed over security concerns for one of the witnesses.
The decision was taken, after the defense of one of the accused made the request “for the security of your witness “. He also requested that it be done under reservation, which means that there would be no access to media and members of civil society as in the last hearing.
The special anti-corruption prosecutor, Zuleika Moore, informed in writing that she did not oppose the request and judge Oscar Carrasquilla will reschedule the hearing to a date that has not yet been announced.
At the hearing, were to have been Panamanian intermediaries who would have received money from the Brazilian construction company. The names have not been confirmed.
The Public Ministry has confirmed that it negotiates agreements with subjects who have confessed to receiving bribes, allegedly destined to former ministers. Among them are José Luis Saiz and Jorge Espino.
Judge Carrasquilla has already validated three effective collaboration agreements with Odebrecht executives: André Campos Rabello, Olivio Rodrigues Junior and Luiz Eduardo Da Rocha Soares.
