MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Lula resists arrest deadline waiting for last minute habeas corpus filed at an appeals court
Lula spent the night at the São Bernardo do Campo Metalworker's Union in the company of his sons, friends and party leaders 
The Union office has been surrounded by militants in red-T-shirts who have set up a human corridor where the former president is holding up. 
”We are gathered here with our supporters in the birthplace of the Workers Party ... so we can combat this injustice,” said party leader Gleisi Hoffman 
It was not clear if the higher court would intervene before a 5 pm., deadline for the former president to start serving time for bribery and money laundering. Former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told Folha de Sao Paulo early Friday that he has decided not to turn himself at the Federal Police in Curitiba where he must serve a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, as ordered by judge Sergio Moro.
Lula spent the night at the São Bernardo do Campo (metropolitan Sao Paulo) Metalworker's Union Headquarters in the company of his sons, friends and party leaders, and is expected to make an announcement at 16:00, an hour before he should turn in Curitiba.
Whether the Federal Police will try to arrest Lula at the Union office, has yet to be seen, since militants have set up a human corridor around the Metalworkers Union headquarter where the former president is holding up.
Lula said he is awaiting the results of a last minute habeas corpus request filed by his defense, this time at the Federal Superior Justice Tribunal (STJ). Lula’s lawyers urged the appeals court to suspend the prison order, arguing they had not been given time to exhaust procedural appeals and painting the case as an effort to remove him from the presidential race he is currently leading.
Lula’s defense team issued a note saying they had filed a request to the UN human rights committee requesting interim measures to block the arrest warrant, alleging bias and the violation of the right to presumption of innocence.
They said Lula’s case had been judged far quicker than any other in the jumbo Car Wash rampant corruption investigation.
According to Paulo Okamotto, President of the Lula Institute, a trip to Curitiba would present logistical and security difficulties, especially after Moro ordered the blocking of the PT Party leader's bank accounts. However the Federal Police announced it has an aircraft ready to fly the ex leader to Curitiba in southern Brazil.
It was not clear if the higher court would intervene before a 5 pm., deadline for the former president to start serving time for bribery and money laundering.
”We are gathered here with our supporters in the birthplace of the Workers Party ... so we can combat this injustice,” said party leader Gleisi Hoffman. “Lula is innocent!”
Hundreds of die-hard supporters in red shirts thronged outside the union offices late into the night on Thursday, cheering spirited defenses of Lula, who sought refuge inside. Many remained camped outside the building early on Friday.
The same union was the launch pad for Lula’s political career nearly four decades ago, when he led nationwide strikes that helped to end Brazil’s 1964-85 military government.
He left office with sky-high approval of 83% and was called “the most popular politician on Earth” by former U.S. President Barack Obama. But Lula's downfall has been as stunning as the unprecedented corruption probes that have convulsed Brazil for the last four years, jailing dozens of politicians and business leaders long considered above the law.
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Read all commentsImprisoned [only for the namesake] or not; while the soap opera unfolds; watch him make a fool of The System to entertain the world. The Govt. of course will have a Very Logical Face-Saving Legal “Explanation” for NOT imprisoning him to complete the entire sentence.
Apr 06th, 2018 - 08:45 pm +2@EM
Apr 07th, 2018 - 10:48 am +1REF: “watch him make .................to entertain the world”:
Now, they are finding Legal Excuses for NOT keeping him behind the bars! DAMN IT! :o)))):
REF:
https://i2.wp.com/www.humorpolitico.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/lula-em-cana-risadas.jpg?resize=580%2C399&ssl=1
I had already mentioned that they really can't AFFORD to keep a corrupt behid bars for too long [or something to the effect]; SIMPLY because it will be THEIR turn NEXT!
I hate to say: “I told you so”. But I DID tell you SO, didn't I?
@EM
Apr 07th, 2018 - 05:49 pm +1“Who says Lula should make things easy for judge Moro?”
I think you've missed the point....Lula's drama is not making things 'difficult' for Moro, much to the contrary....by trying to play to his ever-decreasing following in SBCampo, Lula is only managing to shoot himself in the foot and complicate his own situation.....but I can fully understand his motives...main one : try to hang on to his last base of supporters before being conducted (peacefully) to jail, and try to become a martyr.
Reekie, am going to make a statement and then, ask you ONE question, ok ?
Statement : The triplex in Guaruja was a gift to Lula, from OAS, in exchange of “special” favours, granted during the former’s presidency to the latter (overpriced PB contracts, laced with bribes) and re which Lula never got to take possession, in his name, or in that of a front man (a “laranja”, most likely a “good friend of his”), because in Oct/Nov 2014, Marisa Leticia was obliged to go public, days after the “lavajato” had pinpointed the triplex as a bribe, denied by Lula, despite the fact that during the first 9 months of 2014, OAS president, Leo Pinheiro (now encarcerated) had attended every personal whim of the First Lady, in reforming and decorating the apartment – (with a gourmet kitchen identical to that of the Atibaia country home, which Lula claims belongs to good friend of his, despite the fact that his ‘good friend’ put foot in the home only once or twice, while Lula used it hundreds of times) - as proved by photos and records of her frequent ‘hands-on’ supervision of the requested expensive alterations (totally out of the ordinary for ANY normal real-estate transaction - pool, private elevator, gourmet kitchen, fully furnished etc).
Question: What in the above statement do YOU “know” to be a lie, or fabricated evidence, or a ‘mistake of fact’ (as your buddy in Canada likes to describe his mistakes), or which, in your opinion don’t compromise Lula in the least ??
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