Federal Police Indict Brazilian Ex-President Lula and Wife Marisa in Guarujá Triplex Case

08/26/2016 - 17h50

On Friday (26), the Federal Police indicted Brazilian ex-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on suspicion of passive corruption, ideological falsity, and money laundering in the probe investigating the involvement of construction company OAS in the renovation of the triplex apartment in Guarujá, on the São Paulo coast -a property that investigators believe is linked to the ex-president.

This is the first time Lula has been indicted in Operation Lava Jato, the investigation that is looking at the misappropriation of funds by state owned Petrobras.  The former president is also under investigation in other probes, still underway.

According to the Federal Police, Lula and his wife, Marisa Letícia, "received bribes from construction company OAS totaling R$ 2.4 millions (US$ 750,000)".

Marisa was also indicted, on suspicion of passive corruption and money laundering. The investigation shows that the triplex was reserved  for Lula's wife and was renovated for the benefit of his family.
 
Furniture and household appliances were added to the apartment, resulting in reforms totaling R$ 1.1 million (US$ 340,000) which were executed under former OAS director, Paulo Gordilho, according to the investigators.

"The OAS even opened a center in its accounting department for specific expenses to manage disbursements, which it nicknamed  'zeca pagodinho'", said the police.

The FP say the OAS paid for Lula's move in Brasília, after he completed his presidential mandate. According to the FP, R$ 1.3 million (US $ 400,000) was spent on transport, under the construction company's name, but with the ex president as the benefactor.

Also indicted were the president of the Lula Institute, Paulo Okamotto, the former president of the construction company Léo Pinheiro and company executive Paulo Gordilho.

The findings from the probe will now be sent to the Federal Public Ministry, who will review the evidence to determine whether or not it will file the complaint. If the complaint is accepted by the court, the indicted will become defendants.  

Folha has not been able to reach the attorneys of those involved. The ex president has always denied receiving any bribes from the construction company.

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

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