The corruption case against Paulo Maluf, the former São Paulo mayor accused of corruption by Manhattan’s district attorney in 2007, has spawned a shameless slogan among his supporters. “Rouba mas faz”, it runs, or: “he steals, but he gets things done”.

Given the level of hubris over the alleged graft – which Mr Maluf has always denied – it is perhaps no surprise to find he is the target of an international attempt by the Brazilian authorities to recover money from him.