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Brazil names new judge to lead corruption probe

Fachin will take over the investigation from Teori Zavascki, who died in a plane crash in January.

By Ed Adamczyk and Andrew Pestano
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin was chosen to lead a corruption and bribery scandal involving Brazilian politicians and businesses. He replaces Teori Zavascki, who died in January in a plane crash. Photo by Marcelo Camargo/Wikipedia
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin was chosen to lead a corruption and bribery scandal involving Brazilian politicians and businesses. He replaces Teori Zavascki, who died in January in a plane crash. Photo by Marcelo Camargo/Wikipedia

Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Minister Edson Fachin was assigned to lead investigations into a massive political and business corruption ring, the court announced.

He was chosen at random from a list of Supreme Court judges and replaces investigator and judge Teori Zavascki, who died Jan. 19 in a plane crash. Zavascki made significant progress in investigating Brazil's political leaders in what is called the Car Wash, known in Brazil as Lava-Jato, scandal. Dozens of people have been convicted and many Brazilian companies have agreed to cooperate in exchange for leniency.

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"Minister Edson Fachin, of the Supreme Federal Court, was drawn this morning on Thursday as the new rapporteur for the cases related to the Lava-Jato operation," the Supreme Federal Court, or STF, said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Fachin said he "recognizes the importance of his new charge and reiterated his commitment to carry out his duty with prudence, speed, responsibility and transparency."

Fachin said he has begun work to transition into his new role, adding that he values the "indispensable contribution of the current team."

On Monday, the STF accepted a plea deal involving 77 former and current employees of the Odebrecht S.A. construction firm, which prosecutors have described as leading a graft ring involving Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras. The company admitted paying $1 billion in bribes to obtain construction contracts in 12 countries. The Odebrecht plea deal implicates over 100 former or current government leaders, sources told the Wall Street Journal.

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The extensive breadth of the investigation, and public expectations the probe of the scandal will cleanse the government of corruption, are Fachin's major challenges. He performs his tasks with "dignity, respect and the expected discretion in a way that leaves no doubt about his seriousness," law professor Ivan Hartmann told the Journal.

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