A person connected to drilling rigs construction contracts between Brazilian drilling contractor Sete Brasil and Singapore’s rig builder Sembcorp Marine, has been arrested.
According to Sembcorp Marine, based on allegations by Petrobras’ former engineering manager Pedro Jose Barusco, Brazilian authorities on Friday, March 27, arrested a certain Guilherme Esteves de Jesus.
Sembcorp has said that Guilherme Esteves de Jesus was connected to companies which were engaged by Sembcorp’s subsidiaries as consultants in connection with the rig construction contracts with Sete Brasil.
In February 2015, Barusco accused both of Singapore’s largest rig builders, Sembcorp Marine and Keppel, of paying bribes to get rig contracts in Brazil. The two companies have issued statements denying any involvement in such actions.
Sete Brasil was established in 2011 to own and operate drilling rigs to be used by Petrobras for drilling offshore Brazil . Since its inception, the company has ordered several billion dollars worth of drilling rigs from Keppel and Sembcorp .
In relation to the latest news on Guilherme Esteves de Jesus arrest, Sembcorp Marine has said: “The company is unable to comment on the truth or otherwise of these allegations and its internal (legally privileged) investigations are continuing. The company and the group have a strict anti-bribery policy and do not condone any action that will result in the violation of any country’s anti-corruption laws. The Company and the Group also do not and will not tolerate any improper business conduct.”
Offshore Energy Today Staff