Spreadsheet Indicates That Odebrecht Transferred R$8 Million to Lula da Silva, Say Federal Police

10/25/2016 - 14h03

The Federal Police claim that former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) received R$8 million (US$ 2,5 million) from construction company Odebrecht.

According to a police report from the indictment of former minister Antonio Palocci, the term "Friend" ("Amigo") that shows up in the spreadsheet of bribe payments that was seized by authorities refers to Lula.

E-mails suggest that the nickname alludes to the close relationship between the former President and Emílio Odebrecht.

According to the investigation, Palocci would have been responsible for "soliciting and coordinating" the transfers.

The report doesn't provide details regarding Lula's alleged activities with the contractor nor does it explain how the PT leader benefited from the money.

The former president's lawyer, Cristiano Zanin Martins, declared that the accusations against Lula are "frivolous, typical of the manipulation of laws and legal proceedings used for political persecution".

Palocci has denied the accusations and says that he is not the "Italian" who is cited in Odebrecht's spreadsheet.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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