Brazilian businessman, key witness in FIFA trials, dead at 74

Sao Paulo, May 25, 2018 (AFP) - Brazilian businessman Jose Hawilla, who was ensnared in the sprawling FIFA corruption scandal and became a key US government witness, died Friday at age 74 after being sent home to receive medical treatment, the hospital treating him said.

Hawilla, a former journalist, was the founder of Traffic Group, a Brazilian-based company that handled marketing rights for football events.

He was arrested in 2013 and pleaded guilty in US federal court in December 2014 to racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud. Hawilla agreed to forfeit $151 million and become a witness for US prosecutors.

His testimony helped lead to the arrest of several high-ranking football officials in FIFA, the sport's world governing body, and the Brazilian Football Confederation.

Hawilla, who was still awaiting sentencing in the US, was allowed to return to Brazil a few months ago to receive treatment for a respiratory illness.

The Sirio Libanes Hospital in Sao Paulo said in a statement that he died of respiratory failure.

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