In a deposition to Brazilian prosecutors in March, Moura detailed similar illegal, under-the-table payments totaling $53.9 million, mostly paid by Brazilian engineering companies, for their work abroad advising election campaigns in Panama, El Salvador, Angola and Venezuela. Moura, who looked after the couple's finances, told prosecutors that Maduro, then Chavez's foreign minister, personally paid her with cash in bags in his office in Caracas. She said the Venezuelan government never paid a remaining $15 million for the 2012 campaign. Maduro, a former bus driver, is facing mounting unrest as his opponents take to the streets in growing numbers demanding overdue elections. Santana also worked against his will for defeated Panamanian presidential candidate José Domingos Arias at Lula's request and with Odebrecht paying the couple $11.4 million, Moura said.

Source: Egypt Independent May 12, 2017 09:45 UTC