News / Brazil

Petrobras scandal menaces Brazil officials

Wednesday, 04 March 2015 1:07 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 04 March 2015 1:08 AM ]

Workers from a company under contract for the Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras take part in a protest to demand the payment of three months of wages in arrears, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 5, 2015. (AFP photo)

A prosecutor in Brazil has asked the Supreme Court to investigate 54 politicians over a massive graft case that has rocked the country's largest corporation Petrobras.

"There have been 28 requests for new investigation files... which involve 54 politicians who have immunity," a spokesman for the top prosecutor said on Tuesday.

The state-owned oil giant has been hit by allegations of involvement in a huge corruption scandal, tarnishing the company’s financial standing.

It was reported last month that the chief executive of Petrobras and other executives of the Brazilian company had stepped down in the wake of the scandal.

Prosecutors have reportedly uncovered documents on some USD 800 million in illegal funds such as bribes, kickbacks and price-fixing.

President Dilma Rousseff, who served as the head of Petrobras before taking office in 2010, also faces criticism for failing to act against corruption during her tenure at the oil company and later as the Brazilian president.

HN/MHB/AS

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk