MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 28th 2024 - 21:15 UTC

 

 

Lula da Silva's top advisor charged for alleged involvement in Petrobras corruption

Wednesday, September 2nd 2015 - 06:43 UTC
Full article 4 comments
Dirceu is the most senior member of the ruling Workers' Party to be taken into custody in connection with the scheme. Dirceu is the most senior member of the ruling Workers' Party to be taken into custody in connection with the scheme.
The federal police department said in a statement it has asked prosecutors to charge Dirceu with corruption, racketeering and money laundering. The federal police department said in a statement it has asked prosecutors to charge Dirceu with corruption, racketeering and money laundering.
Dirceu was Lula da Silva's chief of staff between 2003 and 2005 and was already serving an 11-year sentence for masterminding a cash-for-votes scheme in Congress Dirceu was Lula da Silva's chief of staff between 2003 and 2005 and was already serving an 11-year sentence for masterminding a cash-for-votes scheme in Congress

Police on Tuesday asked prosecutors to file charges against Brazil's former presidential chief of staff, Jose Dirceu, and top advisor of former president Lula da Silva, for alleged involvement in the massive corruption scheme at state-owned oil company Petrobras.

 Dirceu is the most senior member of the ruling Workers' Party to be taken into custody in connection with the scheme. The federal police department said in a statement it has asked prosecutors to charge Dirceu with corruption, racketeering and money laundering.

Dirceu served as former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's chief of staff between 2003 and 2005. He was arrested early August in his home, where he already was under house arrest serving an 11-year sentence for his involvement in a cash-for-votes scheme in Congress more than 10 years ago.

Prosecutors have said that Dirceu masterminded the kickback scheme at Petrobras, accepted bribes while in office and continued to receive payments from contractors after he was jailed in late 2013 for the vote-buying scandal.

According to prosecutors, the scheme at Petrobras involved roughly $2 billion in bribes and other illegal funds. Some of that money was allegedly funneled back to campaign coffers of the ruling party and its allies. It also allegedly included the payment of bribes to Petrobras executives in return for inflated contracts.

Categories: Politics.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • ChrisR

    Lula's looking a bit 'piggy' there compared to how he looks now.

    Is he worried the police are getting to him next or has his cancer returned?

    50 / 50 chance on both I would image given the cancer he had.

    Sep 02nd, 2015 - 12:47 pm 0
  • Conqueror

    A “top adviser” involved in massive corrupt, criminal activity. And Lula wasn't/isn't? Isn't it important to ensure that evidence can't be tampered with? Who knows where the evidence is? At the least Dilma and Lula should be under house arrest with a total block on communications. A cell 6 foot by 6 foot would be better. Each. Wouldn't want them “entertaining” each other.

    Sep 02nd, 2015 - 01:26 pm 0
  • Jack Bauer

    Lulla would look much better on the horizontal in a 6 foot by 2 foot wooden box.
    Hopefully, any day now.

    Sep 02nd, 2015 - 09:40 pm 0
Read all comments

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!