http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/the-talented-mr-youssef-brazil-s-black-market-central-banker.html
Known as the “black-market central banker,” Alberto Youssef has been accused to be a part of the Petróleo scandal. This man lives a luxurious life thanks to Brazil's “slow” justice system, representing Brazil's economic potential being stunted by corruption and crime. He has been a player in Brazil's greatest scandals for the past 20 years. The article describes some of these scandals, including his career as a doleiro. However large his impact, Youssef still claims he is just a small piece of the larger system of corruption. His lawyer describes him as “the link between all involved.”
Corruption has allowed many politicians, CEOs and more get away with breaking the law.
On a different note, Brazil suffers environmentally and cruelly mistreats their natives for the sake of economic growth.
4 comments:
I will agree with the fact that corruption is rampant in the country. If he is as the article says, then either he is a worker that greases all the wheels of the machine or he is the mastermind (which he denies). I'd like to think that the mastermind isn't the one to get caught, but he does seem to have a large level of involvement in all aspects of the money laundering scheme.
Corruption is a problem in Brazil, but with a court so easy to bargain with, how is this problem going to be addressed? Most legislation will come from the government (which is involved in the schemes) and be enforced by the police (possibly also corrupt). Ideas?
Also, I couldn't find the information in the article to support the claim of abuse of native workers. Do you have another article about that? I'd be interested to read it. I'm sure it ties in with corruption and skimming profits and such.
I wonder how Brazil can ever actually get corruption out of the system. One would think that the government would watch him after so many times of being in arrested, but the government is always involved in all of these scandals. It seems that personal gain from the government officials is at a much higher priority than stabilizing the country.
To erkeiser: I enjoyed your description of Youssef! The only idea I can think of is using Chile and Uruguay as role models. I believe people need to demand, not only justice, but education, as well.
I have this article: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/22/brazil-rainforest-awa-endangered-tribe
It describes a logging industry's actions using hired gunmen against the tribe's protesting. It is awful and barely covered in the media.
Brazil has been dealing with corruption for decades now and it seems to be spiraling out of control. The court system in Brazil is easily persuaded for the right price and I believe true reform starts at the top and trickles its way down. Brazil won't be free of corruption until they clean up their legal system and that comes with electing officials and implementing and enforcing harsh corruption practices penalties.
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