Lawyer hands in Brazilian ex-President Lula's passport to police
Xinhua,January 27, 2018 Adjust font size:
BRASILIA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The lawyer of former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva handed his client's passport over to federal police in Sao Paulo Friday, one day after a court approved its seizure.
Judge Ricardo Leite from the 10th federal court in the federal capital of Brasilia ordered the seizure of Lula's passport Thursday, forcing him to cancel a trip to Ethiopia, where he was set to participate in a global meeting.
Leite's decision is linked to a separate investigation in which Lula is accused of using his influence to help the Brazilian airforce buy jet fighters from Sweden.
The Workers' Party (PT), founded by Lula, called the decision part of an "odious judicial persecution" of the former president.
It has been a roller-coaster week for Lula, who was named the PT's candidate for the upcoming presidential elections Thursday and saw his appeal for his prison sentence rejected Wednesday.
Lula and his defense lawyers have denied all the accusations. But if he loses his final appeal, Lula will be banned from standing for public office. Enditem