Brazilian prosecutors on Thursday formally charged executives from six of the country's largest engineering firms with forming a cartel to funnel kickbacks from state-run oil firm Petrobras to the ruling political party and its allies, Reuters reported. They were also indicted on charges of corruption, money laundering and organized crime in a landmark case that has shaken President Dilma Rousseff's government and may further weaken a stagnant economy. The corruption scandal, in which billions of dollars were allegedly paid by the companies in bribes to win Petrobras contracts, threatens to paralyze infrastructure projects because implicated firms could be banned from government contract bids. Prosecutors charged 35 people, 22 of them from engineering companies OAS, Camargo Correa, UTC Engenharia, Galvao Engenharia, Mendes Junior and Engevix. -- SPA 23:16 LOCAL TIME 20:16 GMT تغريد
