In 2007, the company was implicated in reports of bribery involving illegal payments to government officials relating to the project award.[62][63] Six former Skanska managers plus a former consultant were arrested for tax evasion.[64] Skanska performed its own investigation, dismissing seven staff, and worked closely with the authorities concerning the inquiry.[65][66] Later bribery allegations related to a pipeline for Petrobras in Brazil,[67] prompting Skanska to be barred from bidding for work for two years by the Brazilian government,[68] and to withdraw completely from operations in South America.[69]