UK court allows SFO to use Brazilian evidence in Petrobras bribery case

A British court has ruled that the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) may continue to use evidence obtained in Brazil to support the seizure of £7.3 million from a former Petrobras engineer, Mario Ildeu de Miranda.

Judge Mark Weekes of the Southwark Crown Court noted that while the Brazilian Supreme Court later revoked the legal basis for sharing such mutual legal assistance material, the situation is “at the very least, highly unusual.” The decision follows an appeal by Miranda against the 2023 civil confiscation of his bank accounts, which were frozen under allegations of money laundering and bribery.

The case involves evidence originally gathered during the Lava Jato investigation. Despite the subsequent annulment of certain legal frameworks in Brazil, the UK tribunal determined the SFO could proceed with the evidence to defend the asset forfeiture.