By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASILIA, BRAZIL—Federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday that they have asked a judge to file corruption charges against ex-Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors have also charged his wife and six other officials. A judge will determine in the next few days whether to formally charge Lula.

Federal Prosecutors have been investigating Lula and his wife for not declaring to the government their ownership of a luxury home in Guaruja. The charges accuse Lula of illegally receiving from the construction company, O.A.S., $1.1 million towards improvements and expenses for the property in question. In addition, the complaint claimed that Lula received illicit payments, kickbacks and campaign donations paid by O.A.S. in order to obtain public contracts from Brazil’s oil giant Petrobras. The complaint continues to state that Lula did this in order to maintain his party in power. Prosecutors do not claim that Lula kept the money obtained from O.A.S. but that he distributed the money among his party members, lawmakers, and oil executives. The prosecutors are demanding Lula to pay back the money obtained.

Deltan Dallagnol, a prosecutor in the case, stated in a conference on Wednesday that “Lula was the big boss of the Petrobras corruption scheme. Lula was on top of the power pyramid. Lula appointed several senior executives at Petrobras so that they could raise funds for the governing coalition. Without Lula’s decision power, it would be impossible for this scheme to exist.”

Lula denied the charges. His attorney’s released a statement claiming that the charges “attack the democratic rules of law and intelligence of Brazilian citizens.” He has denied ownership of the property in dispute and claimed his innocence. Lula is already set to stand trial for obstructing the investigation into the Petrobras scheme. Lula was in presidency from 2003-2010 and a beloved leader. His successor and protégé, Dilma Rousseff, was impeached from office last month.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera—Brazil: Ex-President Lula Charged in Corruption Probe—14 September 2016.

BBC—Brazil ex-President Lula and Wife Face Charges in Corruption Scandal—14 September 2016.

The New York Times—‘Lula,’ Brazil’s Ex-President, is Charged With Corruption—14 September 2016.