A cement bunk bed, a shower, a cold water shower, and a hole in the ground as a toilet. This is a cell in Bangu 9 prison, in the humble neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. Eike Batista (60), the Brazilian businessman who became the seventh richest man in the world, with a fortune of about 28 million euros just over five years ago, is now imprisoned for bribing politicians.
“I will answer to Justice, as it is my duty,” Batista told Globo TV at John F. Kennedy airport before departing for Rio de Janeiro, where he was arrested as soon as he landed. “It’s time to help clean things up.”
Batista is accused of being involved in a vast corruption scheme. Specifically, Batista allegedly paid $16.5 million to the former governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sérgio Cabral, who has been imprisoned since November, accused of leading a corruption gang.
Up until five years ago, Batista had a net worth exceeding $30 billion. This made him the seventh richest man in the world and the richest in Brazil, according to Forbes magazine. He controlled the EBX Group, a large conglomerate with businesses in shipbuilding, mining, oil industry, and logistics. Later, his company suffered a debacle. He lost more than $27 billion after that. Bloomberg reported in January 2014 that Batista “has a negative net worth.” Forbes and Folha de S. Paulo cited Batista in September 2014 stating that his negative net worth was -$1 billion.
Batista’s arrest is part of a broad investigation into corruption at the state oil company Petrobrás, known as Operation Car Wash, which has implicated many of the country’s top businessmen and politicians.