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CORRUPTION

Swiss double money frozen in Petrobras probe

Switzerland said on Thursday it had frozen $800 million (706 million euros) during its investigation into corruption at Brazil's state oil firm Petrobras, but a portion of the funds had been returned.

Swiss double money frozen in Petrobras probe
Photo: Vandelei Almeida/AFP

The Swiss attorney general's office (OAG) previously put the amount of money blocked during the probe — which opened in April 2014 — at $400 million.
   
The OAG statement said a total of $190 million had so far been returned from Swiss banks to various individuals or entities.
   
The multi-billion-dollar Petrobras corruption scam has touched some of Brazil's most powerful figures, including President Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
   
Rousseff's tottering government has been plunged deep into crisis, with the president fighting off new impeachment proceedings, mass protests, a deep recession and the splintering of her coalition.
   
Switzerland is probing evidence that huge portions of the funds scammed from Petrobras were funnelled to the federation's banks.
   
To date, Swiss prosecutors have opened 60 separate investigations into possible “aggravated money laundering”, linked to Petrobras, involving 340 suspicious bank transactions.
   
Documents related to more than 1,000 accounts have been requested from over 40 banks, the OAG further said.
   
The owners of these accounts are “senior executives of Petrobras and… its suppliers, financial intermediaries, Brazilian politicians,” and various companies tied to Brazil, the statement said.

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CORRUPTION

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president

Police raided the offices of FC Barcelona on Monday, carrying out several arrests just six days ahead of the club's presidential elections, a Catalan regional police spokesman told AFP.

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president
Barcelona's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu is among the arrested. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Spain's Cadena Ser radio said one of those arrested was former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October, along with CEO Oscar Grau and the club's head of legal services.

But the police refused to confirm names, saying only “arrests are taking place” and adding that the operation was being run by officers from the financial crimes unit.

“We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit,” the police spokesman told AFP.

According to reports in the Spanish media, the operation is linked to last year's investigation into the 'BarçaGate' scandal, which saw the club deny hiring a company to criticise current and former players on social media to improve the image of the then-president Bartomeu.

Cadena Ser said Barca paid €1 million in six separate invoices to the company I3 Ventures, with whom the club have since cut ties.

Bartomeu resigned in October, after mounting pressure following months of controversy and a dramatic decline in performances on the pitch.

His successor is due to be elected on Sunday, when club members will choose between the final three candidates, Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font.

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