An ex-director of the Brazilian state-run bank Banco do Brasil who has been convicted in a major corruption trial has fled the country to avoid jail.
Henrique Pizzolato, who also has an Italian passport, said in a letter he had fled to seek a fair trial in Italy.
On Friday the Brazilian Supreme Court issued 12 arrest warrants in connection with the case.
Eleven defendants have surrendered, including the chief of staff of ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Last year, the Supreme Court convicted 25 politicians, businessmen and bankers over the “Mensalao” (big monthly allowance) case.
The scheme that used public funds to pay coalition parties for political support during the government of President Lula came to light in 2005.
President Lula was not implicated in the case.
The first sentences were only handed down at the end of 2012.
Nearly a year later, on Friday, the Supreme Court issued the first 12 arrest warrants.
Pizzolato, an ex-marketing director of Banco do Brasil, was the only one who did not turn himself in.
He was sentenced to more than 12 years in jail for money laundering, embezzlement and active corruption.
His lawyer released a letter from Pizzolato and said he hoped to get another trial, free of media pressure in Italy..
