Brazil’s top court denies petition to release ex-president
Posted June 25, 2019 7:35 pm.
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s Supreme Court has denied a petition to release former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who is serving a sentence for corruption.
In a 3-2 vote, a panel of Supreme Court judges rejected a petition from his defence team demanding his release because of alleged inappropriate behaviour by the judge in the case. Da Silva is serving his sentence in a police station in Curitibia. He has been held since April 7, 2018.
Da Silva’s lawyers argue then-judge Sergio Moro offered guidance to prosecutors in investigations that led to da Silva’s conviction. Moro has said he did nothing improper.
Da Silva was president in 2003-2010 and was convicted of corruption over a beachfront apartment that prosecutors say he received from a construction company.
The Associated Press
