Brazil court rejects ex-President Lula’s last appeal
A regional court voted 3–0 to reject the last appeal lodged by former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s counsel.
Deliberations were short, as no statements had to be heard from the prosecution or the defense apart from the vows of appellate judges João Pedro Gebran Neto, Leandro Paulsen and Victor Laus.
The defense argued for Lula’s conviction to be invalidated or reversed, even though requests filed with appeal courts cannot change the outcome of a trial, but merely ask for further clarifications.
The decision will be notified to Judge Sergio Moro, in charge of Operation Car Wash, which saw the onetime president convicted June last year of corruption and money laundering in the case involving a triplex apartment on coastal Guarujá, São Paulo.
In addition to sentencing Lula to 12 years and one month in prison, the appellate court ruled that, after his last appeal was examined, Moro should be notified so Lula could be ordered to begin serving his sentence.
The Brazilian Supreme Court, however, issued a safe-conduct ensuring Lula’s liberty at least up to April 4, when a preventive habeas corpus petition filed by his counsel is slated to be examined. The move is an attempt by his attorneys to have him wait at liberty as they turn to even higher courts, like the Superior Court of Justice.
Presidential run
The final confirmation of Lula’s conviction by the appellate court can also ban him from running for president this year. In recent polls, the erstwhile president—who announced his willingness to become a presidential hopeful—ranks first among intended votes.
Under the so-called Clean Record Law, signed into law by Lula himself in 2010, those convicted by trial of crimes like money laundering are to be ineligible for eight years.
It will be the job of the country’s electoral authorities to make a decision on Lula’s eligibility when his candidacy application is filed.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Brazil court rejects ex-President Lula’s last appeal
