Five people accused in a corruption scandal at Brazil's state oil giant Petrobras have agreed to return $165 million to the public purse in plea bargains with prosecutors, a newspaper reported Tuesday. Globo daily said the five include Paulo Roberto Costa, a jailed former Petrobras director who exposed the massive scope of the alleged payments to Brazilian politicians, dubbed "Operation Car Wash."
Globo said Costa has pledged in writing to return $27 million, most of which is parked in a Swiss bank account, the report said, citing sources close to the investigation. O Estado de Sao Paulo reported Monday that another former Petrobras director, Pedro Barusco, had agreed to pay back $100 million and cooperate with investigators.
The paper said $20 million Barusco holds in a Swiss bank account had been blocked. Barusco is accused of having been in cahoots with another former director, Renato Duque, who was arrested last week. Currency dealer Alberto Youssef, accused of money laundering in the case, has reportedly pledged to hand back some $19.2 million and two businessmen from construction firm Toyo Setal say they would hand back a similar sum. As much as four billion dollars were allegedly paid to members of the ruling Workers Party and other politicians, between 2004 and 2012 to buy influence with cash creamed off inflated Petrobras contracts.
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