Sao Paulo case stays in Jersey

Investment vehicles allegedly owned by Paulo Maluf – the former mayor of Sao Paulo who is subject to numerous corruption cases in Brazil – will go on trial in Jersey in early 2012.

London-based law firm Lawrence Graham (LG), which is acting for Sao Paulo and the Brazilian government, is applying to the Royal Court of Jersey to give directions on how the trial will proceed next month.

In November, Durant International and Kildare Finance failed in an appeal to move the case from Jersey, arguing that the correct jurisdiction was Brazil. The British Virgin Islands-registered companies are alleged to have funnelled $22m of road-building kickbacks through Jersey bank accounts when Mr Maluf was mayor in the 1990s.

LG's Andrew Witts said: "Having retained jurisdiction in Jersey we can now be confident that the case will proceed to trial, hopefully in early 2012."