The charges had been brought as part of ongoing investigations related to the Operacao Lava Jato (Operation Car Wash) corruption scandal in Brazil.
Two executives related to the former Sembmarine operations in Brazil were acquitted last week in the long-running corruption, bribery, and money laundering case related to contracts the company won a decade ago from Brazilian offshore energy company Sete Brasil.
The company and its then competitor Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) were involved in a wide-reaching corruption case known as Operation Car Wash.
Last year Keppel O&M and Sembmarine merged to form Seatrium.
A Brazilian court in June 2020 accepted a complaint of money laundering and corruption in relation to certain rig construction contracts made against Martin Cheah Kok Choon, a former employee of Sembcorp Marine’s subsidiary in the country as part of the wider Operation Car Wash graft probe.
The court in June 2020 also accepted a complaint of money laundering against Guilherme Esteves de Jesus (GDJ), a former consultant of the Singaporean offshore and marine contractor who earlier that year was sentenced to more than 19 years’ imprisonment in Brazil on related charges.
Seatrium, which formed in 2023 following the company’s acquisition of compatriot Keppel Offshore & Marine, on said last week it understands that in relation to the charges filed by the Brazilian Ministerio Publico Federal (MPF) against Martin Cheah and GDJ in their personal capacities, the Brazilian Federal Lower Court on 20 December acquitted both men of all the charges.
Under Brazilian law, the MPF may appeal this decision.
“The potential outcome of Operation Car Wash is still uncertain, and the Company cannot predict how the abovementioned decision by the Brazilian Federal Lower Court will impact the current investigations or allegations relating to Operation Car Wash. The company also has no control over and cannot predict whether investigations by the Brazilian authorities will lead to new allegations or investigations,” Seatrium said.
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