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Why is Brazil ex-leader Lula caught up in corruption scandal? Why Brazil's Lula faces fresh corruption investigation
(2 months later)
In the early hours of 4 March, the home and other properties belonging to Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were raided as part of a huge corruption investigation. The former president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has been accused of playing a key role in a huge corruption scandal involving state-oil company Petrobras.
Lula himself was taken to a police station and released after three hours of questioning. Brazil's Attorney-General, Rodrigo Janot, has asked the Supreme Court to open an investigation into Lula's alleged involvement in the multi-billion dollar scandal that has already seen dozens of lawmakers arrested.
Here we look at how the popular ex-leader has come to be at the centre of a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal that has already seen dozens of lawmakers arrested. Here we look at the accusations in more detail and how the once popular ex-leader came to be linked to the allegations.
What happened on 4 March? What is Lula accused of?
Police knocked on the door of Lula's house in Sao Bernardo do Campo in the greater Sao Paulo area at 06:00 local time (09:00GMT). At this stage, few details of the accusations against Lula are known as neither the Attorney-General's office nor the Supreme Court have made them public.
Officers took the ex-president in an unmarked car to a police station at Congonhas airport for questioning. What is certain is they are connected to Operation Car Wash, an investigation into a multi-billion dollar kickback scheme at state-oil company Petrobras.
Investigators say that starting in 2003, construction companies formed a cartel to overcharge Petrobras for building contracts.
They would then pay part of their windfall to Petrobras executives and politicians who were in on the deal.
Prosecutors allege that the Workers' Party, of which both Lula and current President Dilma Rousseff are members, partly financed its campaigns and expenses through these kickbacks.
Sao Paulo newspaper Folha quoted Attorney-General Janot as saying that the kickback scheme "could never have functioned for so many years and in such a broad and aggressive form under the federal government without the participation of ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva".
Lula, who governed from 2003 to 2011, has denied the allegations.
What is the evidence?
At this stage, we do not know what the evidence against Lula is. Local media have reported that the Attorney-General has sent several folders of documents to the Supreme Court.
Nor is it known what the exact charges against Lula could be. Newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo reports that Mr Janot would charge Lula with obstruction of justice.
The newspaper says that the former leader is suspected of hampering Operation Car Wash, the investigation into corruption at Petrobras.
According to the daily, the Attorney-General will cite President Rousseff's nomination of Lula as her chief of staff as evidence that Lula and Ms Rousseff tried to obstruct justice.
Under Brazilian law, members of the cabinet can only be investigated by the country's highest court.
Lula was sworn in as chief of staff in March, but a judge suspended the nomination within an hour, arguing that it was a move to shield Lula from possible prosecution by the federal judge investigating the Petrobras scandal.
The country's Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether Lula will be able to take up his post or not.
Why did this come up now?
The Attorney-General's move is based on testimony given by Senator Delcidio do Amaral as part of a plea bargain, according to Brazilian media.
Mr Amaral of the governing Workers' Party was arrested in November on charges of obstructing justice, the first sitting senator to be arrested in Brazilian history.
He is accused of trying to help former Petrobras executive Nestor Cervero flee the country. Cervero was jailed for being the mastermind of the Petrobras corruption scandal.
Mr Amaral has been collaborating with the authorities.
His testimony also prompted the Attorney-General to request the launch of an investigation into former presidential candidate Aecio Neves.
Mr Neves lost to Ms Rousseff in the 2014 presidential race.
Was Lula not questioned before?
Yes, police took the ex-president for questioning on 4 March.
The officers escorting Lula to the police station were acting under a judge's order called a "conducao coercitiva" (bench warrant) which means that a person is commanded to appear before authorities to give testimony.The officers escorting Lula to the police station were acting under a judge's order called a "conducao coercitiva" (bench warrant) which means that a person is commanded to appear before authorities to give testimony.
Police searched his house in Sao Bernardo, the offices of the Lula Institute - a non-governmental organisation founded by the ex-leader - and the homes of some of his family members and associates. Police also searched his house in Sao Bernardo, the offices of the Lula Institute - a non-governmental organisation founded by the ex-leader - and the homes of some of his family members and associates.
In total, 200 police officers enforced 33 search and 11 arrest warrants at locations in three Brazilian states.In total, 200 police officers enforced 33 search and 11 arrest warrants at locations in three Brazilian states.
What's behind Lula's detention? What was he questioned about on 4 March?
Lula's detention is part of a long-running investigation into a massive corruption scandal at Brazil's state-owned oil company, Petrobras. While the allegations were related to the Petrobras kickbacks scheme, they focussed specifically on two properties allegedly owned by Lula's family.
The investigation is called Operation Lava Jato (Car Wash) and was launched by Judge Sergio Moro in March, 2014. Prosecutors alleged that Lula had received "illicit benefits", such as having one of the construction firms involved in the Petrobras scandal renovate a luxury beachfront apartment and a ranch for his family.
Investigators allege firms and businessmen paid corrupt officials huge bribes in order to secure lucrative Petrobras contracts. They said that "the suspicion is that the improvements and the properties are bribes derived from the illegal gains made by OAS [construction firm] in the Petrobras graft scheme".
They say that starting in 2003, construction companies formed a cartel to overcharge Petrobras for building contracts. Investigators said they also had evidence that in 2014 the ex-president received at least $270,000 (£190,000) worth of furniture and improvements for the beachfront apartment in Guaruja.
They would then pay part of their windfall to Petrobras executives and politicians who were in on the deal. They said they were also looking into sums paid to Lula by construction firms involved in the scandal as donations or speaking fees.
Prosecutors allege that the governing Workers' Party partly financed its campaigns and expenses through these kickbacks. Lula denied any wrongdoing.
The scandal has rocked Brazil's political establishment, with top politicians in several parties accused of taking bribes.
Where's Operation Car Wash at?
The investigation has been under way for almost two years and is in its 24th "phase" (a phrase used by investigators when they follow new lines of enquiry).
Top executives at Petrobras and dozens of directors of Brazil's largest construction and engineering firms have been arrested.
Dozens of influential politicians, including the treasurer of the governing Workers' Party, Joao Vaccari Neto, and Lula's former chief of staff, Jose Dirceu, have been arrested.
But it is not just politicians from the governing party who have been linked to the scandal.
President Dilma Rousseff's fiercest rival, lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha of the PMDB party, has also had his home raided by police.
Prosecutors say he took as much as $40m (£28m) million in bribes, which he denies.
What's Lula being questioned about?
Prosecutors allege Lula received "illicit benefits" from the kickbacks scheme, such as having one of the construction firms involved in the scandal renovate a luxury beachfront apartment and a ranch owned by Lula's family.
They say that "the suspicion is that the improvements and the properties are bribes derived from the illegal gains made by OAS [construction firm] in the Petrobras graft scheme".
Investigators say they also have evidence that in 2014 the ex-president received at least $270,000 (£190,000) worth of furniture and improvements for the beachfront apartment in Guaruja.
They say they are also looking into sums paid to Lula by construction firms involved in the scandal as donations or speaking fees.
Lula has denied any wrongdoing.
What are the implications for the government?What are the implications for the government?
Lula was the political mentor of current President Dilma Rousseff. Lula was the political mentor of current President Dilma Rousseff and remains close to Ms Rousseff, who nominated him as her chief of staff in March.
As early as 2014, President Rousseff acknowledged that "this [scandal] may change the country forever". Ms Rousseff is currently facing impeachment proceedings over allegations she manipulated government accounts prior to her re-election in 2014.
But up until now, she has not been linked to the Petrobras corruption scandal, even though some of her critics have questioned how she could not have been aware of such a wide-ranging kickback scheme while she held a senior position at the oil giant.
Ms Rousseff chaired the Petrobras board of directors from 2003 to 2010.Ms Rousseff chaired the Petrobras board of directors from 2003 to 2010.
She has denied knowledge of any wrongdoing but many of her critics have questioned how she could not have been aware of such a wide-ranging kickback scheme at Petrobras while she held a senior position at the oil giant. If her close friend and mentor Lula were to be charged, pressure on the president would increase massively at an already difficult time in her political career,
How have Brazilians reacted?
Supporters and opponents of Lula gathered outside Lula's house and the police station where he was being questioned and shouted slogans for and against the former president.
His supporters say Lula's detention is part of a dirty war against the former leader, who recently hinted that he was considering running for president in the 2018 election.
A spokesman for the Lula Foundation called his detention "an assault against the rule of law that impacts all of Brazilian society".
But public prosecutor Carlos Fernando dos Santos Lima said that the move showed that no-one was beyond the power of the law in Brazil.
"Anyone in Brazil is subject to be investigated when there are indications of a crime," he said.
What's been the effect on the Brazilian economy?
In the immediate aftermath of Lula's detention, markets rallied.
Brazil's currency gained more than 3% against the dollar and shares in Petrobras surged by 14%.
Analysts said traders were betting on the possibility of a new coalition taking over power which could be more market-friendly than the current government led by President Rousseff.
But so far the corruption scandals besetting the country have proven very costly.
Last year, Petrobras revealed it had lost $2bn in corruption-related costs.
And on 3 March official figures showed that Brazil's GDP had contracted by 3.8% in 2015, a worse performance than almost any other major economy.
While this is partly due to low commodity prices and sluggish global growth, continuing news of corruption at the highest levels has deterred some investors and angered the Brazilian public, analysts say.