Multinational Gunvor paid more than USD 93 million to Ecuador for bribes to Petroecuador

Swiss group Gunvor, one of the world’s largest oil operators, pleaded guilty in a bribery scheme involving Petroecuador.

After signing an agreement with the Ecuadorian State, the Swiss multinational Gunvor disbursed more than USD 93 million in the accounts of the Ecuadorian Treasury on June 11, the Attorney General’s Office reported.

In its statement, the Attorney General’s Office explained that this payment is part of a negotiation process with the company and signed on June 6.

Gunvor, one of the largest oil operators and marketers in the world, agreed last March to pay more than USD 661.7 million to the authorities of the United States and Switzerland for a case of bribery against officials of Ecuador’s state oil company.

At that time, the US justice system accused the company of having violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) between 2012 and 2020, when it paid more than USD 97 million to intermediaries to obtain contracts.

According to the thesis of the New York prosecutor’s office, Gunvor received confidential information from the Ecuadorian state company, which allowed him to obtain more than USD 384 million in illicit benefits.

“This conviction occurred in the context of the case in which Nielsen Arias, former Foreign Trade Manager of Petroecuador, was sentenced,” the Attorney General’s Office also recalled.

In fact, one of the recipients of these bribes was Arias, from whom a Gunvor employee admitted buying a Patek Philippe watch in 18-karat gold.

The bribes paid in this corruption scheme were channeled through United States banks, through front companies in Panama and the British Virgin Islands controlled by Gunvor’s accomplices.

On the other hand, the Attorney General’s Office assures that during the current administration, the Ecuadorian State has recovered at least USD 100 million in international litigation.