Lula's Defense Presents Rent Receipts Claiming They Are Original

10/25/2017 - 10h59

The defense of former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva presented 31 rent receipts to the Federal Court in Paraná, on Tuesday (24), related to Lula's neighboring apartment in São Bernardo do Campo (SP), claimed as originals.

A notary was also present. According to attorney Cristiano Zanin, the notarial act provides the defense with protection and transparency related to the act.

The case pertains to the second criminal proceeding against Lula under judge Moro's responsibility, and it is now in its last stages before trial.

In this proceeding, Costamarques is suspected of having acted as straw man for the acquisition of the apartment in benefit of the former-president.

The defense also presented the lease agreement between businessman Glaucos da Costamarques and Lula's wife, Marisa Leticia, who died in February, and a letter between Costamarques and Lula from January 2017, in which the landlord requests rent to be paid to another bank account.

The defense stresses there is no debt settlement request in the text.

Lula's attorneys had submitted scanned copies of the receipts in court in September. Subsequently, the Federal Prosecution Office filed a plea of forgery requesting expert examination of the original documents.

In a press conference before delivery of the documents, Lula's attorney said the release "is the most unequivocal evidence of payment."

Translated by ANA BEATRIZ DEMARIA

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