Brazilian authorities have executed a search warrant on Sembcorp Marine’s Brazil shipyard as part of an ongoing graft investigation.
The company said the search was in relation to investigations against a former consultant Guilherme Esteves de Jesus (GDJ) and the former president of the shipyard Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz, Martin Cheah Kok Choon.
The search warrant was in connection with the on-going investigations related to the “Operacao Lava Jato” (Operation Car Wash) in Brazil, it added.
“The company has co-operated fully with the Brazilian Federal Police and provided materials within the scope of the warrant,” it said.
GDJ has been arrested by the Brazilian Federal Police and is currently facing ongoing criminal charges which have not been concluded.
Sembcorp Marine reiterated that it is “committed to the highest standards of compliance with anti-corruption laws” and “does not condone and will not tolerate any improper business conduct”.
It said it has a “strict compliance program and continuously works to ensure that policies and procedures are in place” to prevent any violation of any anti-corruption laws applicable to its operations.
Sembcorp Marine said it will continue to monitor developments in Brazil and other jurisdictions with respect to this matter, and will make appropriate announcements in the event of any material developments.
Last month French shipowner and contractor TechnipFMC agreed to pay fines of over $296m to resolve foreign bribery charges with authorities in the US and Brazil.
The charges arose out of two independent bribery schemes: a scheme to pay bribes to Brazilian officials and a scheme to pay bribes to officials in Iraq.
In addition, TechnipFMC’s former consultant has pleaded guilty in connection with the resolution, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) said. He is awaiting sentencing.
