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| Prosecutors file charges against Brazil ex-leader Lula | Prosecutors file charges against Brazil ex-leader Lula |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Brazilian prosecutors are filing charges against ex-President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in a money laundering probe, officials say. | Brazilian prosecutors are filing charges against ex-President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in a money laundering probe, officials say. |
| The charges, which are related to a major corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras, still have to be formally accepted by a judge. | The charges, which are related to a major corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras, still have to be formally accepted by a judge. |
| Lula denies any wrongdoing and says the accusations are politically motivated. | Lula denies any wrongdoing and says the accusations are politically motivated. |
| He is among 16 people who are formally being accused of money laundering by Sao Paulo prosecutors. | He is among 16 people who are formally being accused of money laundering by Sao Paulo prosecutors. |
| Lula's son is also reported to be on the list. | Lula's son is also reported to be on the list. |
| Lula and his wife, Marisa Leticia, face questions over the alleged ownership of a seafront penthouse in the exclusive resort of Guaruja. | Lula and his wife, Marisa Leticia, face questions over the alleged ownership of a seafront penthouse in the exclusive resort of Guaruja. |
| Prosecutors have announced a news conference for later on Thursday. | Prosecutors have announced a news conference for later on Thursday. |
| Lula's lawyer, Cristiano Zanin Martins, said he was not given official access to the accusations against the former leader. | Lula's lawyer, Cristiano Zanin Martins, said he was not given official access to the accusations against the former leader. |
| "This action confirms the bias [against Lula] in this whole process," he said. | "This action confirms the bias [against Lula] in this whole process," he said. |
| Prosecutors say one of the country's biggest construction firms, OAS, carried out extensive refurbishment on the penthouse. | Prosecutors say one of the country's biggest construction firms, OAS, carried out extensive refurbishment on the penthouse. |
| Officially the apartment belongs to OAS, which is under investigation. It has been accused of paying bribes to politicians and senior officials at Petrobras to secure lucrative contracts. | Officially the apartment belongs to OAS, which is under investigation. It has been accused of paying bribes to politicians and senior officials at Petrobras to secure lucrative contracts. |
| Lula, 70, denies all accusations and says he never owned the apartment. He also accuses the prosecutor in the case of being arbitrary, says the BBC's Daniel Gallas in Sao Paulo. | Lula, 70, denies all accusations and says he never owned the apartment. He also accuses the prosecutor in the case of being arbitrary, says the BBC's Daniel Gallas in Sao Paulo. |
| The former president was detained last Friday for questioning over the three-storey penthouse. | The former president was detained last Friday for questioning over the three-storey penthouse. |
| His high-profile detention led to criticism not only from his supporters but also from judges and politicians, who said the measure was unnecessary. | His high-profile detention led to criticism not only from his supporters but also from judges and politicians, who said the measure was unnecessary. |
| Lula's supporters say the attacks on him are aimed at tarnishing his reputation, amid rumours that he may run for office again in 2018. | Lula's supporters say the attacks on him are aimed at tarnishing his reputation, amid rumours that he may run for office again in 2018. |
| He was Brazil's president from 2003 to 2011 and was succeeded in office by his political protege, Dilma Rousseff, who has record-low approval rates amid a serious economic crisis. | He was Brazil's president from 2003 to 2011 and was succeeded in office by his political protege, Dilma Rousseff, who has record-low approval rates amid a serious economic crisis. |
| She joined hundreds of people showing support for the former president last Saturday. | She joined hundreds of people showing support for the former president last Saturday. |
| Lula, a former factory worker and union leader, remains a very popular figure in Brazil despite the accusations against senior members of his left-leaning Workers' Party. |