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Brazilian court accepts case against Lula for obstructing investigations

Xinhua, July 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Brazilian Ministry of Justice accepted on Friday an accusation against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, former senator Delicio Amaral and six others for allegedly obstructing anti-corruption investigations.

The move means a new investigation has been opened into the former president and a number of his close associates, including Diogo Ferreira, an adviser to Amaral, Andre Esteves, the comptroller of the BTG bank, entrepreneur Jose Carlos Bumlai, his son, Mauricio Bumlai and lawyer Edson Ribeiro.

All of them face accusation of trying to stop Nestor Cervero, former director of international affairs for Petrobras, from turning state's evidence and denouncing happenings within the notorious Petrobras corruption ring.

Last week, Supreme Court Justice Teori Zavascki had referred the accusation to the federal justice ministry in Brasilia.

However, on Thursday, Lula counter-attacked by presenting a complaint to the United Nations, alleging that Sergio Moro, the judge leading Operation Car Wash into the Petrobras corruption ring, had violated his civil and political rights.

The complaint said there had been "bias in the investigations" and "illegal acts", such as the recording and releasing of private conversations between Lula and suspended president Dilma Rousseff.

Lula is already under investigation for allegedly receiving favors from Petrobras contractors, such as an apartment in Sao Paulo and free construction work to a country residence. Enditem