Brazil ex-President Lula’s attorneys file new habeas petition

The defense attorneys of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday (Apr. 6) filed a habeas corpus request with the Superior Court of Justice, arguing there are still appeals to be considered by a federal appellate court. Lula’s arrest was ruled Thursday.

The petition was filed after trial judge Sergio Moro ordered that Lula should report to the Federal Police in Curitiba, in the southern state of Paraná, where he is to begin serving his sentence.

The decision was taken after the Supreme Court denied the habeas corpus petition on April 4, lodged by the former leader’s defense in a bid to change a 2016 ruling authorizing arrests before all appeal possibilities are over at appellate court level.

In his ruling, Moro states that, despite the possibilities to appeal Lula’s conviction, they are not able to revoke the 12-year sentence handed down by the authorities.

Defense

In a note, attorney Cristiano Zanin said that the arrest order contravenes a decision made by the appellate court, which stipulates that a convict is only to be imprisoned after all appeals are examined.

“The defense was not even notified of the March 23 appellate decision on the motion for clarification […]. Theoretically, it allows new motions for clarification to be filed with the appellate court,” he said.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira