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Lula: Brazil court adds 13 years to ex-president's sentence | Lula: Brazil court adds 13 years to ex-president's sentence |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A Brazilian court has sentenced former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to a further 12 years and 11 months in prison for corruption. | A Brazilian court has sentenced former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to a further 12 years and 11 months in prison for corruption. |
Lula, 73, was found guilty of taking renovation work from a company implicated in a massive corruption scheme. | |
The former president is already serving a 12-year sentence over work done on a beach-front property. | The former president is already serving a 12-year sentence over work done on a beach-front property. |
His lawyers said he would appeal against the new conviction. | His lawyers said he would appeal against the new conviction. |
The former trade union activist and iconic figure for the left in Latin America led Brazil between 2003 and 2010. | The former trade union activist and iconic figure for the left in Latin America led Brazil between 2003 and 2010. |
Lula denies all the charges against him, claiming they are politically motivated and designed to stop him running for president. | |
What is the latest case about? | What is the latest case about? |
Federal Judge Gabriela Hardt said construction group OAS extensively redecorated a farmhouse which Lula frequently visited. | Federal Judge Gabriela Hardt said construction group OAS extensively redecorated a farmhouse which Lula frequently visited. |
Lula's lawyers argued the house did not belong to him but instead to a friend, Fernando Bittar. | Lula's lawyers argued the house did not belong to him but instead to a friend, Fernando Bittar. |
But Judge Hardt said the ex-leader went to the property far more than the owner and ordered the building work - which reportedly cost the company more than 1m reais (£209,000; $270,000). | |
"The accused received these unjustified benefits because of his position as president of the republic, of whom exemplary behaviour is demanded," she reportedly ruled. | "The accused received these unjustified benefits because of his position as president of the republic, of whom exemplary behaviour is demanded," she reportedly ruled. |
Ms Hardt is the new head of a sprawling investigation known as Operation Car Wash - a colossal corruption probe dubbed "the largest foreign bribery case in history" by the US Department of Justice. | Ms Hardt is the new head of a sprawling investigation known as Operation Car Wash - a colossal corruption probe dubbed "the largest foreign bribery case in history" by the US Department of Justice. |
The former judge in charge, Sergio Moro, resigned the job last year when he took up the role of justice minister in newly-elected President Jair Bolsonaro's government. | The former judge in charge, Sergio Moro, resigned the job last year when he took up the role of justice minister in newly-elected President Jair Bolsonaro's government. |
What's the reaction? | What's the reaction? |
Head of Lula's left-wing Worker's Party (PT) Gleisi Hoffmann tweeted that "the persecution of Lula continues". | Head of Lula's left-wing Worker's Party (PT) Gleisi Hoffmann tweeted that "the persecution of Lula continues". |
Those convicted in Brazil can often be released on probation after only a third of their sentence, which means that the 73-year-old could now be behind bars for the next eight years, rather than the next four. | Those convicted in Brazil can often be released on probation after only a third of their sentence, which means that the 73-year-old could now be behind bars for the next eight years, rather than the next four. |
The former president was not allowed to leave prison last week to attend his brother's funeral. | The former president was not allowed to leave prison last week to attend his brother's funeral. |
President Bolsonaro said he hopes Lula "rots in prison" in a video address in October. | President Bolsonaro said he hopes Lula "rots in prison" in a video address in October. |
On Wednesday he tweeted news of the conviction without comment. | On Wednesday he tweeted news of the conviction without comment. |
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