By Ben Tavener
SAO PAULO
A former Petrobras director jailed on corruption and money laundering charges agreed to pay back $28.5 million (70 million reais) to Brazil's public coffers as part of a plea bargain, a newspaper reported Wednesday.
Paulo Roberto Costa will hand over $23 million (45.7 million reais) held in a Swiss bank account, and $2.8 million (2.6 million reais) from an account on the Cayman Islands, accoding to the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper.
He will also have to surrender more cash from Brazilian accounts, along with a speedboat, a luxury car, and land in Brazil worth $1.3 million (2.6 million reais), as part of the deal approved by public prosecutors.
Costa was arrested in March as part of an investigation into money-laundering dubbed Operation Car Wash.
He left a federal police cell in the southern city of Curitiba on Wednesday, and was flown by police to his family’s home in Rio de Janeiro, where he will remain under house arrest.
Costa will have to wear an electronic tag and continue to meet other conditions of his bail, for which $2 million (5 million reais) had to be posted, in addition to the agreed $28.5 million payback.
The former Petrobras director is being investigated for his involvement in the alleged scheme, which the police say was headed by convicted black market money dealer Alberto Youssef, who is also in prison in Curitiba.
Costa has also named 40 high-ranking current and past politicians as part of the alleged scheme. Brazil's leading Veja magazine claims that the names include the current energy minister, Edison Lobão, and a list of governors and members of Congress. Those accused in the report have strongly denied any involvement.
The list of politicians included members of President Dilma Rousseff's Workers' Party and allies in coalition parties and political fallout was expected to impact her bid for re-election since she was on Petrobras’ board of directors.
But recent polls have shown no impact from the scandal, given members of rival parties were also alleged to have been involved. Rousseff has denied knowledge of the scheme and demanded a full inquiry.
Marina Silva, who is running on an anti-corruption, "new politics" platform, and the other main presidential contender, pro-business Aécio Neves, have accused Rousseff of mismanagement and of bearing "political responsibility," even if the incumbent had no direct involvement.
Brazilians go to the polls for a first round of presidential and general elections this Sunday.
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