Former Petrobras exec sentenced to five years


A Brazilian judge sentenced a former international director at state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA to five years in prison for money laundering, the second company executive convicted in an ongoing corruption probe. Federal Judge said there was ample evidence that the former director, Nestor Cervero, set up a front company to launder money. He also used illicit money to buy a luxury apartment in Rio de Janeiro, the judge said. Cervero was fired from Petrobras and arrested in January. The massive kickback scandal has paralyzed Petrobras' infrastructure plans and undermined President Dilma Rousseff's political standing. More than 100 people have been indicted and 50 politicians are under investigation for taking bribe money.