Brazilian justice ordered the reincarceration of José Dirceu, the right arm of the former president Lula da Silva

The justice of Brazil determined Thursday the return of the former minister Jose Dirceu, considered the right arm of the former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003-2010) and linked in several processes by the corruption discovered in the state oil company Petrobras.

After the Regional Court of the Fourth Region of Porto Alegre dismissed the defense appeal, Judge Luiz Antonio Bonat, deputy of the current portfolio holder of justice, Sergio Moro, said that the Former minister must be presented to the authorities before 16:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Friday.

Dirceu was sentenced to eight years and 10 months in prison for receiving alleged bribes under overvalued contracts and illegal activities carried out in Petrobras, according to the prosecutor's office during investigations.

Dirceu, 73 years old he was imprisoned between August 2015 and May 2017, after being convicted in two corruption and money laundering cases in the context of Lava Jato, the largest anti-corruption operation in Brazil's history.

The former minister returned to prison in 2018, while he was waiting at liberty since last June., the response to various appeals lodged by its defenders, thanks to a decision of the Federal Supreme Court.

Among the appeals lodged by the lawyers was a request for the prescription of Dirceu's sentence because of his advanced age, which was finally rejected on Thursday with the unanimous vote of the seven judges of the fourth chamber of the court of Porto Alegre (south). .

The sentences against Dirceu add up 31 years old for pbadive bribery, money laundering and unfair advantage.

The lawyer of the former minister, Roberto PodvalHe stated that his client will be delivered, but it will present a new resource to higher instances.

During his five years of activity within the Lava Jato operation, more than 150 people have been sentenced, although many of them are serving a sentence at home after entering into agreements. with justice.

Former President Lula is serving a prison sentence of 8 years and 10 months for pbadive bribery in Curitiba.

Investigations revealed that builders had paid bribes to millionaires to win rigged contracts from the state oil company divided into businessmen and politicians.

(With information from EFE)