Brazil Bars Chevron Executives From Leaving Over Spill
A federal court in Brazil has issued an order barring 17 executives from U.S. oil giant Chevron and Transocean Ltd. from leaving the country while it mulls criminal charges against them for an oil spill last year.
Among the 17 who were ordered Saturday by a federal judge in Rio de Janeiro to give up their passports is an American: George Buck, the chief operating officer of Chevron’s Brazil division.
Kurt Glaubitz, a Chevron spokeman, said the company has not received a formal notification of the order.
“Any legal decision will be abided by the company and its employees,” he said. “We will defend the company and its employees.”
The oil spill occurred in deep water off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in November.
The next month, Brazilian federal prosecutors filed a suit against Chevron and oil rig operator Transocean for 20 billion reais, about $11 billion.