In a video published by G1, Joesley Batista admitted to paying around R$400 million (approximately US$ 129 million at the time) in bribes to politicians, in cases that began with interventions in the board of directors of the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) in 2004 and, over time, expanded to the financing of electoral campaigns. According to Batista, the amount constituted bribes disguised as political donations.
“There are official payments, cash 1, via political campaigns; there are cash 2 payments; there are payments via cash,” said Joesley in his plea bargain agreement, through which he sought to avoid the penalties he faced in various Federal Police operations and investigations by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público Federal – MPF).
