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Brazil's Lula faces trial linked to Petrobras scandal | Brazil's Lula faces trial linked to Petrobras scandal |
(35 minutes later) | |
Former president of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is to go on trial for obstruction of justice in a case related to the scandal at state oil firm Petrobras, court documents show. | Former president of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is to go on trial for obstruction of justice in a case related to the scandal at state oil firm Petrobras, court documents show. |
The multi-billion-dollar affair has already seen dozens of politicians and officials arrested. | The multi-billion-dollar affair has already seen dozens of politicians and officials arrested. |
Lula, with six others, is accused of hampering Operation Car Wash, the investigation into the scandal. | |
Lula, who governed Brazil from 2003 to 2011, has denied any wrongdoing. | Lula, who governed Brazil from 2003 to 2011, has denied any wrongdoing. |
Those also charged on Friday include former senator Delcidio Amaral and investment banker Andre Esteves. | |
They have been accused of trying to prevent former Petrobras director Nestor Cervero from testifying in a plea bargain deal. | |
Cervero was jailed for being the mastermind of the Petrobras scandal. | |
In May, Brazil's Attorney General Rodrigo Janot accused the former president of playing a key role in the Petrobras case, which is estimated to have cost the company more than $2bn (£1.5bn). | In May, Brazil's Attorney General Rodrigo Janot accused the former president of playing a key role in the Petrobras case, which is estimated to have cost the company more than $2bn (£1.5bn). |
He said the corruption could not have taken place without Lula's participation. | He said the corruption could not have taken place without Lula's participation. |
Lula made a comeback to frontline Brazilian politics in March, when President Dilma Rousseff nominated him as her chief of staff. | Lula made a comeback to frontline Brazilian politics in March, when President Dilma Rousseff nominated him as her chief of staff. |
But a judge then suspended his nomination saying it had been aimed at protecting him from possible prosecution. | But a judge then suspended his nomination saying it had been aimed at protecting him from possible prosecution. |
Operation Car Wash was launched two years ago by prosecutors focusing initially on money laundering. | Operation Car Wash was launched two years ago by prosecutors focusing initially on money laundering. |
They say that their investigations have since uncovered a complex corruption scheme at Petrobras. | They say that their investigations have since uncovered a complex corruption scheme at Petrobras. |
Prosecutors allege the scandal was used to finance the electoral campaigns of senior Brazilian politicians. | Prosecutors allege the scandal was used to finance the electoral campaigns of senior Brazilian politicians. |
Several politicians and Petrobras executives have been arrested and sentenced. | Several politicians and Petrobras executives have been arrested and sentenced. |
Some of them have agreed to testify against other suspects in exchange for more lenient sentences, taking the investigation to a new level. | Some of them have agreed to testify against other suspects in exchange for more lenient sentences, taking the investigation to a new level. |