Brazil mayor 'hid
millions in Island'
By Carl Walker cwalker@jerseyeveningpost.com
A FORMER mayor of
Sao Paulo has been accused of hiding up to half a billion pounds of
illegally
obtained money in Jersey.
Brazilian Paulo Maluf (74) is alleged to
have deposited the money in the Island, via accounts in Geneva, between
1993
and 1996 while mayor of the city.
He is currently under investigation in Brazil for embezzling the money
from
various building projects, including the construction of a motorway and
a
mountain tunnel.
Yesterday the Royal Court refused a request from lawyers representing
BVI
companies - which are understood to be connected to the Maluf family -
to block
the release of any information to the investigating authorities in
Brazil. They
were trying to prevent the Attorney General, William Bailhache, from
giving
details of bank accounts and financial movements in the Island. BVI's
legal
team - Bailhache Labesse - were also prevented from seeing the contents
of the
letters, sent to Mr Bailhache from the Brazilian authorities, asking
for
assistance.
However, the court did grant a one-week 'stay' to allow the applicant's
lawyers
a chance to lodge an appeal against the decision. This means the Crown
is
unable to release any information to the Brazilian investigators until
that
date and could be delayed further if an appeal is to go ahead.
Published 20/01/06