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Last Updated : 2024-04-23 12:32:00
13 July 2017 08:43 am - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been convicted of corruption charges and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison.
The judge ruled he could remain free pending an appeal.
Lula has rejected claims that he received an apartment as a bribe in a corruption scandal linked to state oil company Petrobras.
He says the trial is politically motivated and has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
The case is the first of five charges against him.
Lula served eight years as president until 2011 and has expressed interest in running again in next year's elections for the left-wing Workers' Party.
On Wednesday, a judge found him guilty of accepting bribes from engineering firm OAS in the form of a beachfront apartment in return for his help in winning contracts with the state oil company.
"For more than three years Lula has been subject to a politically motivated investigation. No credible evidence of guilt has been produced, and overwhelming proof of his innocence blatantly ignored," they wrote.
The head of the Workers' Party, Senator Gleisi Hoffmann, also hit out at the ruling, saying it was designed to stop Lula standing for office.
She said the party would protest against the decision.
The BBC's Katy Watson in Rio says Lula remains a popular politician and the sentence will deeply divide Brazil.
The charges Lula faces relate to the Car Wash scandal, the nickname for Brazil's biggest ever corruption probe.
Operation Car Wash was launched three years ago amid escalating public anger over political corruption.
The investigation centres on firms that were allegedly offered deals with Petrobras in exchange for bribes, which were funnelled into politicians' pockets and party slush funds.
Lula, a former steel worker turned union leader, came to office as the first left-wing leader in Brazil in nearly half a century.
He was Brazil's most popular president during his tenure - former US President Barack Obama labelled him the most popular politician on Earth.
Unable to stand for a third consecutive term, he was succeeded by close ally Dilma Rousseff, who was later impeached.
Current President Michel Temer also faces corruption allegations and is resisting calls for him to step down. (BBC)
ATP Thursday, 13 July 2017 09:05 AM
Coming colors no good for Ex-Presidents.MR needs to get ready for his turn now.
sss Thursday, 13 July 2017 03:18 PM
This is Sri Lanka. No politician has been prosecuted. Both parties look after each others thieves and thugs while the dumb public looks on
sobers Thursday, 13 July 2017 09:21 AM
It will never happen in SrLanka. Corrupt go free in "Wonder of Asia"
BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 13 July 2017 09:45 AM
Well done Brazil for taking on the corrupt.
ANTON Thursday, 13 July 2017 09:54 AM
SRILANKAN "KANAYA" IS MORE TACTFUL THAN BRAZILIAN "LOOLA".
Raizuh Langai Thursday, 13 July 2017 10:06 AM
Thank God, our leaders are squeaky clean. This will never happen in our Banana Republic.
nimal Thursday, 13 July 2017 10:19 AM
Please bring this in our direction too
ceylon Thursday, 13 July 2017 11:04 AM
when lankas ex pm and ex president face their conviction . via DM Android App
willows Thursday, 13 July 2017 11:15 AM
Not in Sri Lanka
KOLA KOTIYA Thursday, 13 July 2017 11:42 AM
LAW IS EQUAL TO EVERY BODY IN THAT COUNTRY. IN SRI LANKA LAW IS TO POOR PEOPLE N NOT TO ROUGHS
Gobba Thursday, 13 July 2017 11:43 AM
Cheers to the Brazilian Legal system and the people. We in Sri Lanka are still struggling to punish the looters of this country in spite of a grand election victory almost reaching 3 years ago.
nimal Thursday, 13 July 2017 11:44 AM
We also have Lulas with us, when will the justice be for our Lula?
Sincere Thursday, 13 July 2017 12:45 PM
A man who rose to power from socialist platform is now accused of corruption????
Oh God Thursday, 13 July 2017 02:41 PM
ALLE-LU-YA
Daily Boru Thursday, 13 July 2017 04:20 PM
That is Brazil, this is Sri Lanka !!!
Dee Thursday, 13 July 2017 09:39 PM
We still have some hope!
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