Brazil - Former President Lula Must Serve Prison Term (Video)

Brazil’s former President Lula (who ruled from 2003 until 2011) was informed by the supreme court that his legal options have run out and that he will have to serve time in prison for corruption, the length of his effective prison sentence must still be decided upon, but he was convicted to 12 years.

It is a shocking turn of events for the former President who was once Brazil’s most popular ruler ever and left with an approval rating of more than 80%.

Supreme court rules Lula must serve jail sentence for corruption https://t.co/ECFjB2Qq2C

— Financial Times (@FT) April 5, 2018

Despite his convictions and six corruption trials which are pending, he is still leading in all opinion polls to be re-elected for another term in October of this year.

However, some 53% of the country agree that he took bribes and that even the President cannot escape justice.

Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva must start his prison term, while he continues to appeal his corruption conviction, Brazil's Supreme Court has ruled. pic.twitter.com/A9jvlZrDXZ

— BBC World Service (@bbcworldservice) April 5, 2018

Social media in Brazil exploded after the ruling a few hours ago, with expressions both for and against the ex-president. “Lula, thief, your place is in prison,” one wrote on Twitter.

“Nelson Mandela, Gandhi and Lula, three leaders, one fact in common, they were all persecuted for defending the people,” said supporters of Mr Lula da Silva’s Workers’ Party (or PT).

Justices on Brazil’s top court voted to deny Lula’s bid to stave off a 12-year prison sentence while he fights a corruption conviction that he argued was nothing more than a ploy to keep him off the upcoming presidential election https://t.co/hDsXn5u2Ms pic.twitter.com/FeKTlYKWOI

— TRT World (@trtworld) April 5, 2018

President Lula got convicted for receiving a renovated beachfront apartment worth some $1.1million as a bribe by Brazilian engineering firm OAS. He was succeeded in 2012 by Ms Dilma Roussef, who also stepped down since for corruption.

Source:

theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/05/brazil-former-president-lula-jail-corruption-supreme-court-ruling