Operation Car Wash

A Financial Times Book to Read in 2022 Operation Car Wash is the inside story of two Brazilian Federal Police officers who found themselves at the centre of the biggest corruption scandal in history; uncovering a web of political and corporate racketeering which would lead them all the way to the arrest and imprisonment of the nation's President. Through engrossing first-hand testimony, Pontes and Anselmo recount the uphill battle faced by the Federal Police in apprehending Brazil's white-collar criminals, in a country where the war on drugs has become a convenient distraction for the politicians and businessmen extracting billions of dollars from the public purse. A historical record that reads like a political police thriller, Operation Car Wash is also a warning to the world: demonstrating how easily institutionalized crime can take root in a nation, and how difficult it can be to eradicate.

Operation Car Wash began in March 2014 and went on to become the largest operation against corruption in Brazil's history. It brought to light the fact that Petrobras, that at one point was the fifth most valuable company in the world, had been bled for many years at the hands of criminals. Since the scheme was funding politicians and parties, it is possible to say that this was not just a corruption scandal, but also a real attack on democracy, promoted by parties in power and in the opposition, both in the current government and the previous ones. At first glance, Brazil's Criminal Justice system seems to be undergoing a drastic change with Car Wash. A senator in office was arrested in precautionary custody. Dozens of business owners and executives at the highest levels were also taken into custody and continue being the targets of investigations and criminal proceedings. Finally, it appears that justice became effective for everyone. However, despite the evolution of anti-corruption promoted by Car Wash, the operation is target of severe criticism. Many believe it disrespects civil principles of criminal procedure, leaving fundamental rights in the background. The dubiousness of opinions in relation to the operation, coupled with the political scenario of struggle for power, resulted in Car Wash being politically appropriated by two different narratives. In one, it is propagated that the Workers' Party (PT) is responsible for the corruption in Brazil and that it would be enough to remove the party from power to resume the path of economic growth. In another, the operation is accused of being selective, directing investigations at crimes involving the Workers' Party (PT) as a way of taking over power through a coup and removing former president Lula from the political scenario. In this context, Lula was charged in the Operation. Paradoxically, the investigations may, however unwittingly, have favored him, who went on to articulate the facts in his favor and capitalize on popular support, sharply reducing his rejection levels, rising in the opinion polls and presenting himself as the strongest candidate for the presidency in 2018. The huge amount of detail in the midst of countless legal controversies generated a series of questions, for example: - Is there any legal reason why Car Wash is only investigating corruption during the government of the Workers' Party (PT)? - Could there be a connection between precautionary custody and plea bargains? - Although people say Dilma Roussef's impeachment was a coup, could it somehow have benefited the Worker's Party (PT)? - Was the bench warrant deposition of Lula legal? Was Judge Moro allowed to release the wiretap recordings of Lula? - Who is actually affected by the Supreme Court's (STF) decision that the sentence should be enforced after a conviction is upheld by a Court of Appeals? - Could Car Wash, even involuntarily, have contributed to former president Lula becoming favorite in polls for the presidential election of 2018? These and other questions will be answered here. To facilitate the understanding of the operation, each chapter corresponds to the respective stage of the police investigation and the main legal issues related to each stage will be presented in a simple and straightforward way, at the end of each chapter. In matters involving controversial discussions, legal arguments for and against them will be presented in an impartial, pluralistic and non-partisan manner, at least as far as possible in such a polarized country, so that readers can come to their own conclusions. It is not, therefore, a scientific study of each legal subject, since, due to the complexity of the issues, it would be contrary to the main objective of this book: to synthesize Operation Car Wash, clarifying its main legal controversies and contributing to everyone's informed views on the power struggles in the Brazilian democracy.

In the fight against organizational malpractice and organized crime, both international guidelines and national regulations have become stricter. Nevertheless, the results seem not to reach the expected change. Corruption scandals involving large companies, political parties, sports organizations, hospitals, etc. have not come to an end. In order to explain the collective illegality within and through organizations of different sectors and embedded in different cultures, this conference proceedings gathers articles about corporate and organized crime by international renowned scientists and experts. The focus is on similarities and differences in current corruption cases and other forms of crime as well as questions about conventional and alternative prevention measures.

Corruption and the Lava Jato Scandal in Latin America brings together key international and interdisciplinary perspectives to shine new light on Lava Jato, or Operation Car Wash, Latin America’s largest corruption scandal to date. Since 2014, this scandal has unfolded in surprising ways to expose collusion between construction companies and state officials in Brazil and 11 other countries. The corruption uncovered amounts in the order of hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes and billions of dollars in stolen state funds. The volume features evidence that the main construction company at the center of the scandal was—apparently—deliberate about seeking business in corrupt markets. It also evaluates the ambiguous role played by the media, whose members often relied uncritically on classified information released by the authorities. The volume further contributes to our understanding with studies on a number of other relevant topics, including: the overlap between corruption and the planning of the Rio Olympics; Mexico and Peru’s contrasting responses to Lava Jato; the policy reforms needed to avoid a similar scandal in the future; and the roadmap for how Lava Jato should end. Across 15 chapters by leading and emerging scholars and practitioners, this book engages with these issues from a balanced and unbiased perspective, including interviews with key stakeholders on both sides of the case. As one of the first book-length studies to deal with Lava Jato in the English language, this ground-breaking volume is a compelling reading for advanced students and researchers in areas including Corruption Studies, Public Ethics, Political Science, and Latin American Studies, as well as for practitioners working to make governments more accountable.

A Financial Times Book to Read in 2022 Operation Car Wash is the inside story of two Brazilian Federal Police officers who found themselves at the centre of the biggest corruption scandal in history; uncovering a web of political and corporate racketeering which would lead them all the way to the arrest and imprisonment of the nation's President. Through engrossing first-hand testimony, Pontes and Anselmo recount the uphill battle faced by the Federal Police in apprehending Brazil's white-collar criminals, in a country where the war on drugs has become a convenient distraction for the politicians and businessmen extracting billions of dollars from the public purse. A historical record that reads like a political police thriller, Operation Car Wash is also a warning to the world: demonstrating how easily institutionalized crime can take root in a nation, and how difficult it can be to eradicate.

INTRODUCTION BY MISHA GLENNY, author of McMafia A gripping narrative of power, corruption and greed, The Mechanism is the true story of how a simple investigation into money laundering uncovered the biggest corruption scandal in human history. When a small team of investigators discovered that a black market currency dealer was operating out of a Brazilian petrol station, they could never have imagined that their work would destroy the government and lead to the impeachment of two presidents. As the trail leads further and further into the centre of power, the search for the truth and pursuit of justice become ever more crucial. Taut and riveting, with more plot twists than the most compelling political thriller, The Mechanism is an essential work of non-fiction that exposes the rottenness caused when politicians and big businesses believe they are above the law.

In this riveting follow-up to his acclaimed international bestseller No Place to Hide, Glenn Greenwald documents the courageous fight for press freedom in Brazil, where authoritarianism and rampant corruption threaten the most fundamental principles of democracy. In 2019, award-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald writes in his gripping new book, “a series of events commenced that once again placed me at the heart of a sustained and explosive journalistic controversy.” New reporting by Greenwald and a team of Brazilian journalists had brought to light stunning information about grave corruption, deceit, and wrongdoing by the most powerful political actors in Brazil, his home since 2005. These stories, based on a massive trove of previously undisclosed telephone calls, audio, and text shared by an anonymous source, came to light only months after the January 2019 inauguration of Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. The revelations “had an explosive impact on Brazilian politics” (Guardian) and prompted serious rancor, including direct attacks by President Bolsonaro himself, and ultimately an attempt by the government to criminally prosecute Greenwald for his reporting. “A wave of death threats — in a country where political violence is commonplace — have poured in, preventing me from ever leaving my house for any reason without armed guards and an armored vehicle,” Greenwald writes. Securing Democracy takes readers on a gripping journey through Brazilian politics as Greenwald, his husband, the left-wing congressman David Miranda, and a powerful opposition movement courageously challenge political corruption, homophobia, and tyranny. Most vitally, Greenwald demonstrates the importance of independent journalism in holding governments to account, reversing injustices, and ultimately securing the freedoms of democracy.

This book is the newest and one of the very few existing examinations of the full nature of corruption throughout Central and South America. In detailed chapters written by experts with extensive in-country experience, it reveals the political and economic roots and consequences of corruption in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Peru. The editor’s introduction and conclusion texts synthesize their work and provides an over-arching view of corrupt practices and anti-corruption initiatives throughout Latin America. Corruption in Latin America shows the extent to which corrupt practices engulf each of the countries discussed, the involvement of political and corporate entities in the pursuit of ill-gotten gains, and the drag on development caused by corruption in each political entity. The book will be of interest for social scientists, political actors and social activists involved in the fight against corruption in Latin America by providing in-depth analyses of the topic and discussing how best to pursue anti-corruption efforts through civil society actions, judicial endeavors, legal shifts, or elections.