This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/04/brazil-police-raid-home-former-president-lula-petrobas

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Brazilian police detain former president Lula in corruption inquiry Brazilian police detain former president Lula in corruption inquiry
(35 minutes later)
Brazilian police are questioning former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after raiding his home and several associated buildings in a search for evidence in an ongoing corruption investigation. Brazilian police are questioning the former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after raiding his home and several associated buildings in a search for evidence as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.
The detention of the influential Workers party politician – who is best known by his nickname Lula – marks a dramatic new phase of the Lava Jato (“carwash”) probe into bribery and kickback allegations involving the nation’s leading companies and dozens of congressmen. The detention of the influential Workers’ party politician – who is best known by his nickname Lula – marks a dramatic new phase of the Lava Jato (“carwash”) inquiry into bribery and kickback allegations involving leading Brazilian companies and dozens of congressmen.
It is likely to further add to the pressure on the government of president Dilma Rousseff, who is already struggling with an impeachment challenge, economic recession and the Zika epidemic. The huge investigation – easily the biggest in the country’s history – initially focused on corruption and money laundering at the oil company Petrobras but has since widened to include construction and brokerage firms.
It is likely to add to the pressure on the government of Dilma Rousseff, who is already struggling with an impeachment challenge, economic recession and the Zika epidemic.
Federal police launched the action against Lula early on Friday morning with raids on his apartment in São Bernardo do Campo, the home of his son Fabio Luiz, the Lula Institute, and addresses in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro.Federal police launched the action against Lula early on Friday morning with raids on his apartment in São Bernardo do Campo, the home of his son Fabio Luiz, the Lula Institute, and addresses in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro.
According to local media, about 200 officers and 30 tax auditors were involved in this phase of the operation, which has been named Aletheia – meaning “truth of disclosure” in Greek. Police reportedly have 33 warrants for search and seizure and 11 warrants for the arrest of individuals wanted for questioning, including Lula, his wife, Marisa, his children Marcos Claudio, Fabio Luis, Sandro Luis, and Marlene Araujo, and the head of the Lula Institute, Paul Okamotto.
The warrants were granted by Judge Sergio Moro in Curitiba, where the Lava Jato investigation is based.
Related: Zika crisis and economic woes bring gloom to Brazil's Olympic buildupRelated: Zika crisis and economic woes bring gloom to Brazil's Olympic buildup
According to local media, about 200 officers and 30 tax auditors were involved in this phase of the operation, which has been named Aletheia (“truth of disclosure” in Greek). Police reportedly have 33 warrants for search and seizure and 11 warrants for the arrest of individuals wanted for questioning, including Lula, his wife, Marisa, children Marcos Claudio, Fabio Luis, Sandro Luis, and Marlene Araujo, and the head of the Lula Institute, Paul Okamotto. The inquiry is said to be based on testimony given in a plea bargain by the Workers’ party senator Delcídio do Amaral, who has allegedly accused the former president of trying to buy the silence of witnesses, including Nestor Cervero, the former Petrobras director.
The warrants were granted by judge Sergio Moro in Curitiba, the base of the Lava Jato investigation. Police are also looking into newspaper reports alleging that Lula received favours from construction firms in the form of work done at apartments in Atibaia and Guarujá, São Paulo.
The inquiry is said to be based on testimony given in a plea bargain by Workers party senator Delcídio Amaral, who has allegedly accused the former president of trying to buy the silence of witnesses, including Nestor Cervero, the former director of oil company Petrobras. The former president – who has recently indicated that he may stand again in 2018 – has denied the accusations against him, saying they are politically motivated. He has not been charged with a crime.
Police are also looking into newspaper reports that Lula received favours from construction firms in the form of work done at apartments in Atibaia and Guaruja, São Paulo.
The former president – who has recently indicated that he may stand again for president in 2018 – has denied the accusations against him, saying they are politically motivated. He has not been charged with a crime.
The Lula Institute put out a statement on Thursday saying “former President Lula never participated directly or indirectly in any illegality”.The Lula Institute put out a statement on Thursday saying “former President Lula never participated directly or indirectly in any illegality”.
Union members, who are supporters of the Workers party, are reportedly protesting in front of Lula’s house. Union members, who are supporters of the Workers’ party, are reportedly protesting in front of Lula’s house.