Brazilian former president sentenced for corruption
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E-mail Xinhua, July 13, 2017
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File photo taken on July 24, 2015 shows Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reacting during an event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Former President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison for his involvement in the plot corruption that diverted thousands of millions of U.S. dollars from the state oil company Petrobras, official sources said on July 12, 2017. (Xinhua/AGENCIA ESTADO/DIARIO DO GDE ABC/Ricardo Trida) |
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison for his involvement in a corruption ring that embezzled billions of U.S. dollars from state oil company Petrobras Brasileiro, official sources said on Wednesday.
Federal Judge Sergio Moro found Lula guilty of accepting 3.7 million reais (1.2 million U.S. dollars) worth of bribes from engineering firm OAS SA. The company spent the money refurbishing a beach apartment for Lula in return for his help in winning contracts with Petroleo Brasileiro.
Brazil's prosecutor-general had earlier charged Lula on the grounds that the apartment was bought and remodelled for him by OAS SA in exchange for political favors.
Lula served as Brazilian president from 2003 to 2011, and is a popular contender to win next year's presidential election. But if his guilty verdict is upheld by an appeals court, he would be barred from office.
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