Lula To Stand Trial For Obstruction Of Justice

Former President now officially a defendant

PAULO WHITAKER / REUTERS Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, pictured above in April, will stand trial for obstruction of justice, court documents showed Friday.

Brazil’s ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the former chief executive of investment bank Grupo BTG Pactual SA will stand trial for obstruction of justice, documents from a federal court in Brasilia showed on Friday.

Lula was previously under investigation in various jurisdictions in a sprawling corruption probe focused on state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) but is now officially a defendant.

The case dates to last November, when former Senator Delcidio do Amaral and Andre Esteves, the founder and former CEO of BTG Pactual, were arrested for allegedly trying to stop a jailed former Petrobras executive from collaborating with Brazil’s largest-ever corruption investigation.

The executive’s son recorded Amaral, who is now collaborating with prosecutors himself in exchange for a lesser sentence, saying judges could be influenced into freeing him and Esteves was willing to pay for his silence.

The case had previously been secret, and less is known about Lula’s alleged involvement in that incident.

UESLEI MARCELINO / REUTERS A demonstrator holds inflatable dolls depicting Brazil’s former presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R) and Dilma Rousseff at a December 2015 protest.

Lula’s lawyers said in a statement that they had not been notified of the court’s decision but intended to prove his innocence. BTG Pactual declined to comment. Esteves’s lawyers said he committed no illegal acts.

Lula has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, though prosecutors say the multibillion-dollar graft scheme originated during his 2003-2011 presidency and continued during the presidency of his chosen successor, Dilma Rousseff.

Brazil’s largest engineering companies are accused of overcharging Petrobras for work and passing on kickbacks to executives and politicians. They are also being investigated for graft on venues for the 2014 World Cup and upcoming Olympics, events awarded to Brazil under Lula.

On Thursday, Lula’s lawyers petitioned the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the grounds his rights had been violated in the corruption investigation.

The U.N. Human Rights Office confirmed the petition had been received and would be examined to see if it meets the criteria for registration. The process could take at least two years.

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