Appeals Court Schedules Decision on Brazil's Ex-President Lula for January 24

12/13/2017 - 10h30

The TRF-4 regional appeals court in Porto Alegre has scheduled the trial of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, regarding the triplex apartment case, for January 24.

The Brazilian appeals court is responsible for upholding or overturning the trial court's conviction, rendered by judge Sergio Moro.

Lula's case is being processed in record time in court. It took only 42 days between conviction and commencement of appellate proceedings. Judge-rapporteur Gebran Neto, for example, needed 36 business days to vote.

In average, proceedings usually take 102 days from the vote by the judge-rapporteur until trial. In Lula's case, it will only take 52 days.

Lula's defense issued a note in which it states the case needs to be debated "under the perspective of violation against the principle of equality before the law, a fundamental guarantee of any citizen."

"We hope the explanation for this record procedural progress is related to how easy it is to verify the nullity of the proceeding and Lula's innocence", states the text by attorney Cristiano Zanin.

Lula's defense has been trying to prove that the court has been acting with exceptional promptness in the case of his appeal, in order to cast him out of the presidential race in 2018.

Translated by ANA BEATRIZ DEMARIA

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	Douglas Magno/AFP
	Former President Lula da Silva addresses supporters in Belo Horizonte, as part of his "Lula for Brazil" bus tour campaign