The federal prosecutor leading a sprawling investigation into the payment of bribes for inflated Petrobras contracts on Wednesday accused former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of orchestrating the corruption scheme that cost the state oil company billions of dollars.
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This marks the first time Lula has been charged by federal prosecutors for his involvement in the massive graft scheme at the oil company. At his press conference, Dallagnol formally denounced Lula, his wife Marisa Leticia and four other individuals for being part of the corruption scheme that caused a loss of nearly 12 billion reais (US $ 4 billion) to Brazil’s biggest oil company.
Lula’s defense attorney says the Lava Jato accusation is “illusionism” and not based on evidence; “Not even a single act by Lula was presented, nor an evidence”, said lawyer Cristiano Zanin Martins.
Odebrecht CEO Marcelo Odebrecht was sentenced to 19 years in prison earlier this year on charges of money laundering, corruption and taking part in a criminal association.
Prosecutors denounced Lula as the “general” in command of the corruption scheme, allegedly aimed at keeping his party in power.
The charges of bribery and money laundering were leveled against Lula, his wife, Marisa Leticia, and seven other people.
OAS bought, refurbished and furnished the luxury three-story beachfront apartment for the former president, according to the federal prosecutor, who said Lula had made the down payment on the property located in Sao Paulo.
“For Operation Car Wash, Lula’s crime was having been president of the Republic”, the statement said.
Rui Falcao said on Wednesday that accusations against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are “another episode of persecution” and an attempt to stop Lula from running for president in 2018.
Lula has denied that he owns the apartment and had previously denied any wrongdoing.
Lula founded the leftist Workers’ Party and presided over a period of economic prosperity on the back of social welfare policies between 2003 to 2010.
In July, a court in Brasilia also accepted charges against Lula for obstructing justice in the Petrobras investigation.
Millions of Brazilians rose out of poverty during Lula’s two terms as president, and he left office in 2011 with record-high approval ratings.
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“But these charges are likely too big a blow to the political myth of Lula, to the candidate Lula and to the Workers Party as a whole for that to happen”, Troyjo said.
