The Ministerio Publico in the state of Amapa (MP-AM), a body of public prosecutors, has filed a request to annul the acquisition of Anglo Ferrous by Zamin. Both companies produce iron ore in Brazil.
The state’s legislative assembly, Aleap, had approved the deal, but prosecutors at the MP-AM said members of the local parliament were bribed to approve the transaction.
Prosecutors started investigations into the matter in 2015. The MP-AM has since identified the transfer of BRL 10.6 million ($3.27 million) to a banking account, which is said to belong to Daniel Dias, a lawyer and former advisor at the Aleap. Dias had connections with policymaker Junior Favacho, former president of Aleap, who was also accused of corruption.