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WORLD NEWS Thursday 13 July 2017

Ex-Brazilian President Silva convicted of corruption

By MAURICIO SAVARESE as national heroes by some
SARAH DiLORENZO parts of Brazilian society.
Associated Press “The present conviction
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — does not bring this judge
Former Brazilian President any personal satisfaction.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Quite the contrary, it is re-
was found guilty of cor- grettable that a former
ruption and money laun- president be criminally con-
dering Wednesday and victed,” Moro wrote in his
sentenced to almost 10 decision. “It doesn’t matter
years in prison, the highest- how high you are, the law is
profile conviction yet in the still above you.”
sprawling graft investiga- Moro said he did not order
tion that has jailed dozens Silva’s immediate arrest be-
of Brazil’s elite. cause the conviction of a
The decision by Judge Ser- president is such a serious
gio Moro was widely ex- matter that he felt the for-
pected, even by Silva’s mer leader’s appeal should
own defense team, but be heard first.
was still stunning. The char- “This makes Lula’s situa-
ismatic leader left office on tion much worse since it is
Dec. 31, 2010, with sky-high This screen grab of a video recorded on May 10, 2017, released by the Parana Federal Justice much more than a mere
popularity and is credited department, shows Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva testifying in the Car Wash investigation,” said Clau-
investigation in Curitiba, Brazil. A federal judge convicted the ex-president of corruption and
with pulling millions of Bra- money laundering on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 and sentenced him to nine and a half years in dio Couto, a political sci-
zilians out of poverty and jail. Silva will remain free while an appeal is heard. ence professor at Funda-
turning Latin America’s (Parana Federal Justice department via AP) cao Getulio Vargas, a Sao
largest nation into an im- Paulo-based university and
portant player on the world ing for democracy during charges against current from construction com- think tank. “But now he will
stage. Brazil’s first working the country’s dictatorship. President Michel Temer, pany OAS. Prosecutors also do something he likes: Until
class president will remain The 71-year-old has been who is accused of taking alleged that OAS paid to the appeal is decided, he
free while an appeal is considered a front-runner bribes from a meatpacking store Silva’s belongings, but will rally his allies and sup-
heard, but he is now also for next year’s presidential executive in exchange for Moro dismissed that part of porters against a decision
the country’s first ex-pres- election. helping the company ob- the case. Silva also faces that is controversial.”
ident to be convicted in The case is part of the huge tain favorable government charges in four other cases. The case now goes before
a criminal proceeding at “Operation Car Wash” cor- decisions. Temer denies The former union leader a group of magistrates. If
least since democracy was ruption investigation cen- wrongdoing, and the lower has said all the charges are they uphold the convic-
restored in the 1980s. tered on state-run oil giant house of Congress will de- completely unfounded, tion, Brazilian law says Silva
In many quarter, the man Petrobras that has led to cide if he stands trial. and his defiant testimony in would be barred from seek-
known to Brazilians simply the convictions of dozens Silva was accused of re- the case decided Wednes- ing office. Moro also ruled
as Lula remains revered of business executives and ceiving a beachfront day was billed as a show- that Silva should be barred
— both for his economic politicians. apartment and repairs to down between himself and from public office for 19
policies and his role in fight- That probe has also led to the property as kickbacks Moro. Both men are viewed years.q

Peru prosecutors seek jail for president in corruption case

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Pros- former first lady Nadine another former president, when it signed a plea said the ex-president will
ecutors in Peru this week Heredia for 18 months. He Alejandro Toledo, for re- agreement in December vigorously defend himself
requested the arrest of for- said the request is based on lated charges. Toledo is in with the U.S. Justice Depart- against the charges and
mer President Ollanta Hum- testimony provided in Brazil the U.S. fighting attempts ment. The bribes include has no intention of leaving
ala and his wife on money by the former head of Ode- by Peruvian authorities to some $29 million paid in Peru.
laundering and conspiracy brecht, who said he illegal- have him deported to an- Peru for projects built dur- Prosecutors suspect that
charges tied to a corrup- ly contributed $3 million to swer the charges. ing the administrations of Humala and his party con-
tion scandal involving Bra- Humala’s 2011 presidential Authorities across Latin Toledo, Humala and former spired to disguise Odebre-
zilian construction giant campaign. America have been mov- President Alan Garcia. cht’s contributions, report-
Odebrecht. The judge had 48 hours to ing to charge officials ac- Humala, who governed ing them as donations from
Prosecutor German Juarez determine whether to or- cused of taking some $800 between 2011 and 2016, individuals who later said
told The Associated Press der the arrest of Humala million in bribes from Ode- has denied ever receiving they had never provided
on Tuesday that he asked and Heredia. He has al- brecht. The company ac- money from Odebrecht. any financial support to the
a judge to jail Humala and ready ordered the arrest of knowledged the bribes His lawyer, Julio Espinoza, campaign.q