Car Wash Operation Accuses Lula of Corruption and Money Laundering in Country Home Remodeling Case

05/23/2017 - 13h54

A taskforce from the Car Wash Operation lodged another accusation against former president Lula on Monday (the 22nd) - this time, the accusation of corruption and money laundering related to the country house in Atibaia (State of SP).

In addition to the Workers' Party leader, 12 other people were also accused. Among them are businessmen Emílio and Marcelo Odebrecht; Léo Pinheiro from OAS; cattle rancher José Carlos Bumlai; and the owner of the country house, Fernando Bittar.

	Carlos Nardi/WPP/Folhapress
	The country house in Atibaia

According to the accusation, the former president benefited in the amount of R$ 1,02 million (US$ 314 thousand) in improvements to the home, which was used frequently by the PT leader and his family. The remodeling allegedly was paid for by Odebrecht and OAS.

Lula's defense declared the accusation to be "frivolous" and "a desperate attempt to justify the persecution of the former president to society". For counsel Cristiano Zanin Martins, the motion "reminds one of the former manipulations and other absurdities" used to sustain the theory that Lula is the real owner of the country house - something that the PT leader denies.

Fernando Bittar's defender, Alberto Toron, said that the accusation against his client appeared to be "completely beyond any standard of rationality". He declared, however, that he still plans to analyze the motion. Bumlai's defense said that they had no comment. The reporter for this article was unable to contact the defense of the other individuals accused.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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