The world checks on Odebrecht as Panama dithers

COUNTRIES around the world, including Panama have opened investigations into their dealings with the Brazilian construction giant Odebrech since the June 19 arrest of its president Marcelo Odebrecht, but only Panama has handed out substantial new contracts while the more details of its alleged corruption activities are being unveiled.

Panama has ordered an audit of Line 1 of the Metro, a project done by Odebrecht.
And Ecuador and Peru are reviewing 29 agreements with the company
In Europe, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland have already initiated proceedings involving Odebrecht and anomalies have been denounced by NGOs in Angola and the Dominican Republic according to Brazilian media reports..
According to information published by a Brazilian newspaper, anti-corruption NGOs have also denounced anomalies in the Dominican Republic and Angola, reports La Prensa.
Peruvian authorities confirmed that some 15 contracts that were signed with Odebrecht will be revised. The Peruvian comptroller has already submitted five of those contracts to prosecutors for legal action.
It stated that Odebrecht won concessions “without complying with the necessary legal and technical requirements required by the national system of public investment.”
In Ecuador, the Comptroller’s Office announced that it will investigate irregularities in 14 contracts with the government, which could affect public servants who acted as mediators to steer contracts to the company.
Despite the scandals, Odebrecht continues to do well in Panama. It has been awarded the contract for line 2 of the Metro and the $537 million contract for the Colón urban renewal.
In the face of civil society protests, President Juan Carlos Varela has defended the contracts, saying that to cancel them would mean the loss of jobs.
Critics have pointed out that the jobs would be replaced by whomever took over from Odebrecht, even if the more than $2 billion projects would be delayed for a few months