Brazil charges former Vantage Drilling chief with corruption

Vantage Drilling

13/07/2018 01:14

BRASILIA, July 12 (Reuters) - Brazilian federal prosecutors
on Thursday charged the former chief executive of U.S. oil
services company Vantage Drilling  VTGGF.OB   VTGDF.PK  with
corruption and money laundering, accusing him of offering $31
million in bribes to public officials.
    Federal prosecutors said in a statement that the charges
against former CEO Paul Bragg related to irregularities in a
2009 contract worth $1.8 billion to charter a drill ship to
state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasiliero SA  PETR4.SA .
    Reuters was unable to locate Bragg or his representatives.
Bragg was CEO of the Houston-based company from 2006 to 2016. In
a 2015 news release by Vantage, Bragg said there was no evidence
of wrongdoing by Vantage or "any personnel associated with
Vantage." 
    Vantage Drilling did not immediately respond to request for
comment. 
    The charges against Bragg were the latest in the sprawling
"Operation Car Wash" probe into a cartel scheme through which
kickbacks were offered by companies for government projects.
    The probe and related investigations have implicated
hundreds of government officials and corporate executives.

 (Reporting by Jake Spring; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
 ((jake.spring@thomsonreuters.com; +55 61 99653-2429; Reuters
Messaging: jake.spring.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net / Twitter:
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