Switzerland decides to return R$78 million embezzled by Maluf to Brazil

The Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland decided to repatriate R$78 million embezzled by the former mayor of São Paulo, Paulo Maluf, in the construction of an avenue in the city. The decision, dated September 19, was released this Thursday (7) by the Attorney General’s Office (AGU).

The process, which is still ongoing in Swiss courts, keeps the amounts blocked until the final judgment. Despite the determination of repatriation, there is still the possibility of appeal. Maluf’s defense has not yet commented on the decision.

Paulo Maluf was convicted in 2017 by the First Panel of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) for money laundering related to the embezzlement of funds for the construction of Avenida Água Espraiada, currently Avenida Roberto Marinho, during his term as mayor of São Paulo between 1993 and 1996. The STF’s decision supported the Brazilian request for repatriation.

The corruption scheme led by Maluf involved international transactions to divert resources. The STF ministers understood that the former mayor hid and concealed money from the scheme.

Although Maluf’s defense alleged procedural flaws, the STF’s decision upheld the conviction. The AGU and the Federal Public Ministry consider the recent decision of the Swiss Federal Criminal Court as a significant achievement for Brazilian international cooperation in the fight against corruption.

“The return of resources is what society expects from the institutions’ actions in this case, which is emblematic for the country and which has already been condemned in Brazil,” said Hindenburgo Chateaubriand, Secretary of International Cooperation at the MPF.

In May of this year, the STF minister, Edson Fachin, extinguished Maluf’s custodial sentences based on the 2022 Christmas pardon decree, issued by former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). The pardon only covered custodial sentences, maintaining other effects of the conviction in two criminal actions.