17 Nov 2013

Bank director flees Brazil to avoid prison

10:58 am on 17 November 2013

A former director of the Banco do Brasil who was convicted in a major corruption trial has fled Brazil to avoid prison.

The BBC reports Henrique Pizzolato, who also has an Italian passport, said in a letter he had fled to seek a fair trial in Italy.

On Friday the Brazilian Supreme Court issued 12 arrest warrants in connection with the case.

Eleven defendants have surrendered.

Last year, the Supreme Court convicted 25 politicians, businessmen and bankers over the "Mensalao" (big monthly allowance) case, in which public funds were used to pay coalition parties for political support during the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The payments came to light in 2005.

President Lula was not implicated in the case.

Pizzolato was the only one who did not turn himself in. The BBC reports he had been sentenced to 12 years in prison for money laundering, embezzlement and active corruption.

All those arrested were flown to Brasilia on Saturday.