Ex-Brazilian President da Silva convicted of corruption

Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been convicted and sentenced to nine years and six months in prison for corruption and money laundering.


The term was handed down on Wednesday against Lula over a giant embezzlement and kickbacks scheme centred on state-owned oil group Petrobras, at the heart of a sprawling corruption probe known as "Car Wash".

Judge Sergio Moro announced the decision in the Brazilian city of Curitiba.

Lula - an iconic leftist politician who ruled Brazil from 2003 to 2010 - remained free pending a possible appeal.

• Lula is also facing four other corruption charges.

With Brazil in the grip of prolonged political and economic uncertainty, the sentence risked scuttling a potential comeback bid by Lula in the next presidential elections due in October 2018.
 [aljazeera.com]
12/7/17