11 countries agree to cooperate on Odebrecht case

Prosecutors from 11 countries have agreed to cooperate on the massive corruption case involving Brazilian firm Odebrecht, a media report said.

Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Portugal, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela agreed on Thursday to establish "the broadest, most rapid and effective cooperation", Efe news reported.

The meeting was organised by the Brazilian Attorney General's Office and attended by the chief law enforcement officials from the other 10 nations.

All these countries are investigating the corrupt practices - including the paying of huge bribes - engaged in by the construction firm to land public construction contracts.

In a communique released after the meeting conducted amid strict secrecy, the participants said that they agreed to create "joint teams for investigation, bilateral and multilateral" to coordinate the investigations in Brazil and the other countries where Odebrecht engaged in its illegal activities.

--IANS

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