Sembmarine ex-consultant charged in Brazil for money laundering, corruption

He was connected to a consultant engaged by its subsidiaries on contracts with Sete Brasil.

Sembcorp Marine’s (Sembmarine) subsidiaries’ ex-consultant Guilherme Esteves de Jesus has been convicted of corruption, money laundering and participation in a criminal organization, in Brazil, the company announced in an SGX filing.

The charges are partly related to contracts that de Jesus entered into Brazil by subsidiaries of Sembmarine, the company said..

De Jesus was sentenced to 19 years and 4 months in prison and was also fined with an undisclosed amount. He was convicted by the Federal Courts of Curitiba.

He also faces further charges of money-laundering, with the proceedings is still ongoing.

The company noted that he is connected to the consultant engaged by its subsidiaries in connection with the drilling unit construction contracts for subsidiaries of Sete Brasil. The company said in a previous statement that these contracts have been suspended.

Further, the Brazilian Federal Prosecutors (MPF) filed further charges against him for money laundering, and also against Sembmarine’s Brazilian subsidiary Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz (EJA), Martin Cheah Kok Choon for money laundering and corruption. The proceeding is still ongoing.

Sembarine reiterated that it is unaware of any other employees being linked to the ongoing investigations in Brazil.

“[T]he Company is not aware of any other employee past or present of the Company that is a subject of the ongoing investigations by the Brazilian authorities related to Operation Car Wash,” the press statement read.

“The Company and the Group are committed to the highest standards of compliance with the anti-corruption laws and do not condone and will not tolerate any improper business conduct,” Sembmarine asserted.