Former Mexico oil chief denies taking bribes from Odebrecht
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) — The former head of Mexican state oil company Pemex, Emilio Lozoya, "categorically denied" allegations he received $10 MM in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for awarding the Brazilian company a contract at a refinery.
Brazil's O Globo newspaper at the weekend reported documents alleging that former Odebrecht executive Luis Alberto de Meneses Weyll said bribes were paid from 2012 in return for a contract at Mexico's Tula refinery.
Lozoya, who resigned as Pemex president in 2016, posted on Twitter late on Sunday that he had never participated in corrupt practices, calling the allegations "absolutely false."
"Supposing there were accusations against me by confessed criminals, it is important to mention at least that these people can say anything in exchange for a reduced sentence," he wrote in a letter appearing on his Twitter account.
Since settling in the United States, Brazil and Switzerland for a record $3.5 B, Odebrecht has sought to negotiate leniency deals that would allow it to keep operating in other countries across Latin America.
Odebrecht admitted in the settlement with US and Brazilian prosecutors to paying bribes across 12 countries to win contracts, including $10.5 MM in Mexico.
Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by W Simon
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