BAIL to avoid  preventive detention  for three  high profile  suspects in the Odebrecht  bribery scandal has been  increased from $50,000 to $ 1.5 million.apiece.

The new amounts were set by   the Second High Criminal Court on  entrepreneur Riccardo Francolini, the former minister of Public Works Federico Suárez and his sister, Ana Isabel Suárez Cedeño, following an appeal by the anti-corruption prosecutor against the original bonds set by the Eighteenth Criminal Court.

Francolini who is also under investigation in a number of other corruption investigations. is banned from leaving the country.  Judicial sources said that the three accused will now have to pay the new amounts, once they are notified of the court's decision or accept detention. who  is also under investigation in a number of other corruption investigations.

The process originated from a complaint lodged by the ex-comptroller Alvin Weeden over the alleged use of the local banking system by Odebrecht for the laundering of capital.