BRAZIL: Court upholds graft charge against ex-president, bans him from contesting forthcoming polls

Three judges of an appeals court in Brazil have upheld corruption related charges against former president Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva- a decision which bans him from contesting the forthcoming elections this year.

Reports say thousands of Lula da Silva’s supporters gathered with signs bearing the slogan “Elections without Lula is fraud” in the southern city of Porto Alegre where the court’s verdict was delivered.

Read also: CORRUPTION CHARGE: 3 judges set to decide fate of former Brazilian president

The former leader has vehemently denied the corruption charges and said he is the victim of a political witch-hunt to stop him from running.

“If I had one percent in the polls, no one would want to stop me from running,” Lula da Silva said last week.

He has remained free while the most recent appeal was heard, and could still appeal to higher courts.

 

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