BRAZIL/FILE: A chief of staff to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is sentenced to 10 years in jail for running a congressional vote buying scheme almost a decade ago.
Record ID:
860440
BRAZIL/FILE: A chief of staff to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is sentenced to 10 years in jail for running a congressional vote buying scheme almost a decade ago.
- Title: BRAZIL/FILE: A chief of staff to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is sentenced to 10 years in jail for running a congressional vote buying scheme almost a decade ago.
- Date: 12th November 2012
- Summary: BRASILIA, BRAZIL (FILE) (REUTERS) GENERAL EXTERIORS OF BRAZIL'S SUPREME COURT BUILDING, IN BRASILIA
- Embargoed: 27th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- City:
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Politics,People
- Reuters ID: LVA4AOW275Q8KZ8ORC0NHRW5GJJQ
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's former Chief of Staff, Jos�Dirceu, was jailed for 10 years on Monday for his leading role in Brazil's biggest ever corruption case.
Dirceu was found guilty of heading a bribery scheme in which Workers' Party officials and associates paid lawmakers a monthly retainer in exchange for support of their initiatives during the early years of Lula's first term.
The case, heard by Brazil's Supreme Court, has gripped Brazil for more than a month.
Lula's first term, from 2003 through 2006, was crippled by the scandal, though the former president, amid an economic boom, was easily re-elected for a second four-year term. Lula, who was not charged in the scandal, has denied any knowledge of the scheme and has even suggested it never existed.
Dirceu, who helped Lula found the Workers' Party in 1980, was found guilty of corruption and conspiring with others to break the law by running the scheme. Known as the mensal�, or "big monthly payment," the plot diverted public funds through front companies to pay the lawmakers. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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