New York City

Former CEO Arrested at JFK Airport on Bribery and Corruption Charges

The papers say the company paid more than $16 million in bribes while seeking to build a facility in Brazil, and the same alleged bribe got him breaks from a state-owned oil company

What to Know

  • Authorities say the former CEO of Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem SA has been arrested on U.S. corruption charges
  • Federal prosecutors in New York City said José Carlos Grubisich was taken into custody Wednesday at Kennedy Airport
  • Court papers accuse the man of joining a conspiracy to divert about $250 million into a slush fund used to bribe Brazilian officials

Authorities say the former CEO of Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem SA has been arrested on U.S. corruption charges.

Federal prosecutors in New York City said José Carlos Grubisich was taken into custody Wednesday at Kennedy Airport.

An email seeking comment was sent to Grubisich's lawyer.

Court papers accuse Grubisich of joining a conspiracy to divert about $250 million into a slush fund that was used to bribe Brazilian officials.

The papers say Braskem paid more than $16 million in bribes while seeking to build a facility in Brazil. They say the same alleged bribe got Braskem price breaks from a state-owned oil company.

In 2016, Braskem and a construction company agreed to pay $3.5 billion to U.S., Brazilian and Swiss authorities to settle bribery allegations.

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