Singapore charges 2 former Sembcorp Marine officials with corruption over alleged Brazil bribery

One of them was also charged with obstruction of justice.

Singapore authorities charged two former officials of Sembcorp Marine, now Seatrium, including its former CEO, with corruption offences over alleged bribery in Brazil for the benefit of the company’s subsidiaries there.

In a joint statement, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and the Attorney-General’s Chambers charged with five counts of corruption former CEO Wong Weng Sun and Lee Fook Kang, former senior general manager of the company’s subsidiary Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd (JSPL) for “conspiring to give gratification to its former consultant Guilherme Esteves de Jesus.

On two occasions in 2009, Wong Lee allegedly conspired to give de Jesus not more than US$2m ($2.7m) for the benefit of one or more Brazilian officials for the business interests of JSPL.

On over four occasions between 2010 and 201, the two also allegedly gave de Jesus not more than US$1.9m ($2.6m) for the benefit of one or more officers of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. as a reward to advance JSPL’s business interest.

They also allegedly gave not more than US$1.17m ($1.6m) to de Jesus to bribe one or more Brazilian politicians for the JSPL business.

The authorities also said Wong and Lee allegedly gave de Jesus not more than US$300,000 ($404,700) to bribe one or more Brazilian officials for the business interests of its subsidiary Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz Ltda (EJA).

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In 2010, the two also allegedly gave de Jesus money equivalent to not over 2.5% of the contract sums of contracts related to drilling rig units that will be awarded by Sete Brasil Participacoes S.A. to EJA as a reward for the persons that assisted EJA to receive the contracts.

Aside from this, Wong is also charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly instructing two company employees in 2014 to remove an email de Jesus sent containing the evidence of the bribes.

Meanwhile, Seatrium said the Singapore authorities entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the company in line with the charges.

As such Seatrium will pay a financial penalty of US$110m ($148.4m). Of the amount, US$53m ($71.5m) will be provided to Brazilian authorities which will be credited against the financial penalty.

US$1 = $1.35