Brazilian police ask Supreme Court to interrogate ex-President Lula

Brazilian police have asked the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to interrogate former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva within the scope of Operation Car Wash, which is investigating a broad corruption group in Petrobras.

Police chief Joselio Azevedo de Sousa on Thursday lodged the appeal with Federal Supreme Court Judge Teori Zavascki, saying that Lula's Workers' Party "could have benefited from the Petrobras scheme," the court's media office said Friday.

The appeal said the former leader could have obtained advantages for himself, his party or his administration by maintaining a support base paid with illicit funds.

It also said the police were interested in Lula's involvement after Paulo Roberto Costa, Petrobras' former director of refining and supply, said in his testimony that "it was highly unlikely" that Lula and President Dilma Rousseff had been unaware of the embezzlement ring.

Lula, currently on a visit to Argentina, told the Brazilian radio station CBN that he was unaware.

Brazil's Operation Car Wash has so far led to the arrest of a wide range of politicians and businessmen suspected of illegally distributing funds from overinflated contracts signed with Petrobras.

The STF can authorize investigations into Lula, who is not covered by the immunity enjoyed by currently serving officials. Endi