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Lula Criticizes the False Accusations in the Country while Testifying in Ex-Rio Governor's Case

06/06/2018 - 13h47

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ITALO NOGUEIRA
FROM RIO DE JANEIRO

While he was testifying in a federal court, former president Lula said on Tuesday (the 5th) that the country is undergoing a period of "false accusations" and that he is "tired of the lies".

This was the former president's first public statement since he was arrested nearly two months ago.

He was testifying as a witness for the defense of former governor Sérgio Cabral (MDB) in a criminal lawsuit that is seeking to establish whether or not members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were bribed in order to select Rio de Janeiro as the city where the 2016 Olympics would be held.

"It is upsetting that this corruption allegation, in which a [IOC] delegate was bought, came out 8 years later. I don't know who made the allegation, I don't want to know. I don't know them. Given that we are undergoing a period of false accusations, in which may people" the former president said before he was interrupted by judge Marcelo Bretas.

Credito Reproducao
Former president Lula, testifying in a Federal Court
Former president Lula, testifying in a Federal Court

Throughout the testimony, the judge made a point of cutting Lula whenever he was about to attack the judicial branch. At the beginning of the testimony, Judge Bretas issued the standard warning in which he told the witness that he was obliged to speak the truth.

"I am bound by the truth. I doubt there is anyone in Brazil who is seeking the truth more than I am. I am tired of the lies, I want the truth," the former president said before being interrupted by Judge Bretas for the first time.

The judge, who, throughout the hearing, referred to the former president as "Mr. Luiz Inácio" was polite to the former president at the end of his testimony.

He said that Lula had been "an important person for Brazil" and said that he had been to a Lula rally once on Presidente Vargas Avenue.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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