Prosecutor General Seeks Longer Sentence for Former President Lula in Case of Triplex Apartment

08/01/2017 - 10h14

The Prosecutor General's Office presented an appeal on Monday (the 31st) against the sentence handed down by judge Sergio Moro that condemned former president Lula in the case of the triplex apartment in Guarujá (SP).

The prosecutors have contested the sentence of 9 years and six months given to the Workers Party leader, other conditions that were granted to two politicians who were convicted and acquittals that were granted to 4 other defendants in the case.

In the document, the Prosecutor's Office said that there were other aggravating factors, such as the leadership role that Lula played in the scheme.

It also alleges that the former president repeatedly committed the crime of money laundering and that reparations to be made to the public treasury should be in the amount of R$87.6 million (US$ 28 million) - and not R$16 million (US$ 5.1 million), the amount that had been determined by Moro.

The entity also argued against the acquittal of Lula, of businessman Léo Pinheiro from the OAS firm, and of Paulo Okamotto, President of the Lula Institute, related to the part of the imputations of the money laundering crime connected to the storage of the presidential collection.

CRITICISM

In sentencing, Moro had determined a maximum term of two and a half years in federal prison for businessman Léo Pinheiro of OAS, and of two years detention for construction company executive Agenor Medeiros.

The judge granted these conditions even though neither of the defendants had reached a plea-bargaining agreement. Both had confessed to their crimes in normal testimony in the case.

The Prosecutor General's Office claimed that it was "incoherent" to grant the same conditions to them that were given to others who had reached formal plea-bargain agreements.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

Read the article in the original language

	Miguel Schincariol/AFP
	Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (C) speaks during a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil