Former Brazilian President convicted of corruption, to spend 10-yrs in prison

Brazil’s three year investigation dubbed “Car Wash” that has ensnared many of Brazil’s business and political elites has smoked out another after former president Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva was convicted of corruption and money laundering.

Lula who is free for now pending an appeal was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in jail after he was accused of receiving more than $1m in bribes from Brazilian construction giant OAS in the form of a luxury apartment in a beach resort town on Sao Paulo’s coast during his tenure.

Read also: BRAZIL: President Temer’s close ally arrested amid corruption scandal

However, his legal team condemned the ruling for lack of evidence in a statement saying; “President Lula is innocent. For over three years, Lula has been subject to a politically-motivated investigation.”

The former trade union leader turned president oversaw a period of sustained growth in Brazil, fed by a commodities boom, that saw millions lifted out of poverty during his presidency between 2003 and 2010.

 

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