Executives from Chevron, Transocean Held in Brazil

Brazil has barred 17 executives from Chevron and Transocean from leaving the country while an investigation over charges for an oil spill is underway.

BBC: Brazilian prosecutors say they will bring criminal charges against 17 executives from the US oil company Chevron and drilling contractor Transocean after a new leak of crude. A Brazilian federal judge has required the executives to submit their passports to police within 24 hours.

Chevron is facing a lawsuit over an oil spill in November off Brazil's Atlantic coast. And yesterday Brazil said it spotted oil near same offshore field.

* * *

BBC News: Brazil to charge Chevron executives over fresh oil leak

Brazilian prosecutors say they will bring criminal charges against 17 executives from the US oil company Chevron and drilling contractor Transocean after a new leak of crude.

The executives have been barred from leaving the country until the investigation concludes.

Chevron halted production in Brazil after the new oil leak was found on the seabed off Brazil earlier this week.

* * *

Reuters: Chevron executives barred from leaving Brazil over spill

SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO - A Brazilian court on Saturday barred 17 executives from Chevron and Transocean from leaving Brazil, pending criminal charges related to a high-profile oil spill last November.

A federal judge in Rio de Janeiro state granted a request from prosecutors who are pressing for charges against both firms, a spokesman for prosecutor Eduardo Oliveira said in a phone interview. George Buck, who heads Chevron's Brazil unit, and the other 16 executives must turn in their passports to the police within 24 hours, the spokesman said. [...]

The court decision came a day after the Brazilian navy spotted a thin stain of oil extending for about 0.6 mile in offshore field Frade, which was also the site of last year's spill. U.S.-based Chevron said in a statement it halted production at Frade on Saturday after winning permission from Brazilian oil industry regulator ANP.

CNN: Brazil bars Chevron execs from leaving over spill

The oil spill occurred in deep water off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in November.

The next month, Brazilian federal prosecutors filed a suit against Chevron and oil rig operator Transocean for 20 billion reais, about $11 billion.

Posted by kmackenz

Mar 18 2012 - 4:34pm

Why is it that Brazil can bring criminal charges against executives and make them responsible for damages, but we are unable to do it in this country? One Southern congressman even called making the oil company pay damages was crimal. What is wrong with our country?

Posted by minitrue

Mar 18 2012 - 4:40pm

Perhaps in Brazil, the oil companies don't own the government and the judiciary.

Posted by hummingbird

Mar 18 2012 - 5:47pm

"Perhaps in Brazil, the oil companies don't own the government and the judiciary.'

you just might be onto something, minitrue. imagine a system focused in quality of life. i like!

~
"Brazilian prosecutors say they will bring criminal charges against 17 executives from the US oil company Chevron and drilling contractor Transocean after a new leak of crude.
The executives have been barred from leaving the country until the investigation concludes."
Chevron halted production in Brazil after the new oil leak was found on the seabed off Brazil earlier this week.
~

Posted by DontCallMeKing

Mar 19 2012 - 10:45am

>Perhaps in Brazil, the oil companies don't own the government and the judiciary. Laughing with tears in my eyes at that one! Don't think for a moment that the oil companies have no influence on Brasilian politics. Of course they do! The key is that these are American companies, and if anybody is going to screw over the public it will be done by Brasilians and not those arrogant Americans. Undoubtedly there will be a fine, someone will pocket the money in their socks, and it will be business as usual. Just because Brasil doesn't wage war against the rest of the world, it's a mistake to think even for a moment that Brasil is a bastion of hope for global ethics.

Posted by mickjagger6969

Mar 19 2012 - 5:58am

This is what Obama should be doing but he is a double agent pretending to be a Progressive.

Posted by rtdrury

Mar 18 2012 - 4:53pm

This sounds like justice. True justice is where those engaged in activities that erode the people's independence are held on a very short leash. The fossil enterprize has long been the elites' ace of spades in their relentless pursuit of power/control over the people. Please tighten the collar a couple of notches, Brazil. Put the people's values on display for everyone to see clearly.

Posted by NancyJane

Mar 18 2012 - 5:00pm

Throw the bastards in jail and throw away the keys!! Way to go, Brazil. Finally, a country with some balls!!

Posted by Michael Desautels

Mar 18 2012 - 5:32pm

Or is Brazil just after the money?

If so, expect an out of court settlement.

Forgive the skepticism - I've been around for awhile.

Manysummits

========

Posted by dlehman

Mar 18 2012 - 6:00pm

Thank you, Brazil!

Posted by Memory_Hole

Mar 18 2012 - 8:16pm

Bravo Brazil! Declare them prisoners in the War on Earth (WOE). Charge them with Ecocide. Hold them without bail, in isolation. Throw the book at 'em.

Posted by bundecutchie

Mar 18 2012 - 8:33pm

Uh oh, are the people in Brazil setting themselves up for some " democracy lessons"?!? Yikes! Regime change coming up!

Posted by dreamjoehill

Mar 18 2012 - 10:50pm

Too late for that I think. The imperial forces are pretty tied down in the middle east,

Posted by Ironblood

Mar 18 2012 - 8:48pm

I fear that Michael D may be right, and bundecutchie pretty close. But we can all hope that there are actually some balls in Brazil. There sure as hell are none in the U S of A.

Posted by acomfort

Mar 19 2012 - 1:46am

I fear that bundecutchie may be right.

Posted by aremagen

Mar 18 2012 - 11:37pm

I guess Brazil has more influence over it's capitalists than the US does.

Posted by mwildfire

Mar 19 2012 - 9:35am

Nah, no threat of democracy lessons for Brazil. It's a big country, an "emerging economy" and the linchpin of the South American continent--attacking it would make enemies of all the surrounding countries, which worked fine in the 70's and 80's but they can't do it now, with only Colombia for an ally. They'd have to forgo everything else to direct huge military resources against Brazil. They may try undermining it with infiltration, bribery, assassinations perhaps--but the US military only attacks small, weak countries, Brazil is too big a bite to chew.

Posted by Chupacabra

Mar 19 2012 - 10:04am

Bravo, terrific news! Kinda wants to make me move to Brazil, so that I might live under a non-fascist government......

Posted by Steve Woodward

Mar 19 2012 - 12:07pm

Wow, Mitt was right: Corporations really are people. (At least in Brazil, where they can be locked up.)

Posted by Contractors

Mar 20 2012 - 2:29am

Great information. I like it... http://www.123contracting.co.uk

Note: Disqus 2012 is best viewed on an up to date browser. Click here for information. Instructions for how to sign up to comment can be viewed here. Our Comment Policy can be viewed here. Please follow the guidelines. Note to Readers: Spam Filter May Capture Legitimate Comments...

Get News & Views Updates

Most Popular This Week

Popular content

Today's Top News

Executives from Chevron, Transocean Held in Brazil

19 Comments so far

Comments