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Marcelo Odebrecht and Leo Pinheiro are discussing the
possibility of collaborating simultaneously with Brazilian
authorities investigating a bribery scheme that involved
state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA, the newspaper
reported, citing a source close to one of the executives.
A spokeswoman for Odebrecht, citing his lawyers, said Marcelo
Odebrecht has not opted for a plea bargain deal. "He is, as he
has always been, available to give the authorities all due
clarification." Spokeswomen for OAS did not immediately respond
to requests for comment.
Marcelo Odebrecht has been in jail since July on suspicion of
corruption and Pinheiro is under house arrest. Both could seek
lighter sentences if they agree to a plea bargain deal.
Odebrecht and Pinheiro are some of highest-profile executives
ensnared in the probe, with links to politicians, mostly from
the governing coalition, according to prosecutors.
Newspaper Folha de S.Paulo last week reported former Brazilian
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva could be named by Pinheiro
in a possible plea bargain testimony. Lula was briefly detained
for questioning on Friday.
Plea bargain deals are confidential until the testimonies are
collected by prosecutors and accepted by a judge.
The strategy has been widely used in the sweeping corruption
investigation that threatens to topple President Dilma Rousseff.
Economists said uncertainty generated by the probe has helped to
deepen Brazil's worst recession in decades.
(Reporting by Silvio Cascione Editing by W Simon)
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