Brazil's Ex-President Lula To Stand Trial for Money Laundering and Corruption

09/21/2016 - 11h07

Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is due to stand trial on charges of corruption and money laundering in connection with the scandal at state-run Petrobras, Judge Sergio Moro ruled on Tuesday (20).

The Federal Court Judge who is overseeing Operation Car Wash claimed there was enough evidence of Lula's responsibility to begin pressing charges against him. Moro revealed in a statement that Lula was a "direct beneficiary" of bribes from construction contractor OAS SA.

The money that Lula allegedly received was laundered through the purchase and renovation of a triplex apartment located in the beach town of Guarujá (São Paulo), prosecutors say.

The corruption case will also put on trial Lula's wife, Marisa Letícia, and another six people involved in the scandal.

The ex-President is also under investigation in Brasilia, for the part he supposedly played in obstructing investigations.

Moro issued a statement when the claim was officially accepted, saying that this "in no way meant a conclusive verdict."

However, if the judge does find Lula guilty, and if this decision is seconded by the Federal Regional Court, Lula will become ineligible to run for any kind of office in Brazil under the "Ficha Limpa" ("Clean Slate") law.

According to the Federal Public Ministry, Lula is the "main ring-leader" of the Petrobras corruption scheme and benefited directly by taking R$3.7 million (US$ 1.1 million) in bribes from the contractor OAS.

The ex-President's defence denied the accusations, complained of political persecution and stated that Sergio Moro was no longer impartial enough to make these kinds of decisions.

OAS said that it would not contest the accusations.

Translated by GILLIAN SOPHIE HARRIS

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	Marlon Costa/Futura Press/Folhapress
	Brazil's former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva