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News > Brazil

Brazil's Supreme Court Votes to Jail Former President Lula

  • Supporters of former Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shout slogans in front of his flat while the Supreme Court issues its final decision about his habeas corpus plea, in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil April 4, 2018.

    Supporters of former Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shout slogans in front of his flat while the Supreme Court issues its final decision about his habeas corpus plea, in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil April 4, 2018. | Photo: Reuters

Published 4 April 2018
Opinion

The president of the Supreme Court broke what had been a tied vote, potentially ending Lula's bid for re-election and sending him to jail.

Brazil's Supreme Court has voted 6-5 to deny former President Luiz Inacio 'Lula' da Silva habeas corpus while he appeals his corruption conviction, potentially bringing an end to his re-election campaign.

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The popular leftist leader must now begin serving his 12-year prison sentence for taking bribes, denying his plea to remain free until he has exhausted all possible appeals.

Lula is still Brazil's most popular politician, despite his conviction and fighting six separate pending corruption trials. He is the front-runner in all opinion polls for the presidential election in October, but his sentence will likely bar him from running.

The Supreme Court Justices deliberated for more than 10 hours before reaching their final verdict. It is as yet unclear how soon the arrest warrant will be handed down by Judge Sergio Moor.

A supporter of former Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stands next to cardboards that read "No prison for Lula" while the Supreme Court issues its final decision about his habeas corpus plea, outside the city council chamber in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

While the hearing continued, protests broke out across Brazil, with tens of thousands of Lula's supporters swamping streets in multiple cities.

Moro sentenced Lula in July 2017 to nine years in prison for the alleged crime of passive corruption and money laundering.

In January of this year, the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF-4), in Porto Alegre, ratified Judge Moro's sentence and extended it to 12 years and one month in prison.

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Brazil Lula Corruption Jail Supreme Court Habeas Corpus

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by teleSUR/LJS-CM
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