Having found no proof, justice acquitted Lula in a corruption case – telam

Brazilian justice on Monday acquitted former President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva in one of the corruption cases in which had been accused by the prosecutor of favoring car manufacturers in exchange for bribes, after not having found “sufficient evidence” to prove his guilt.

The Federal District Court also acquitted former chief of staff Gilberto Carvalho, who was also secretary to the presidency during former president Dilma Rousseff’s first government – and five others.

According to the decision of Federal Judge Frederico Botelho de Barros Viana, the investigation has not She “convincingly demonstrated” how the former president and his chief of staff “allegedly participated in the alleged criminal context”.

“Indeed, although there are elements that demonstrate the performance of Mauro Marcondes’ company – Marcondes and Mautoni – in terms of extending tax benefits to CAOA and MMC companies, there is no adequate and not even minimally capable evidence to demonstrate the existence of an illegal adjustment between the defendants for the purpose of transferring sums in favor of Lula and Carvalho “, establishes the sentence replicated on Monday by the media OGlobo.

In 2017, the prosecutor claimed that Lula, who ruled Brazil between 2003 and 2010, modified, in exchange for alleged bribes, legislation to favor auto companies by extending tax breaks for five years, but the charge was dismissed.

But during oral argument last May, he changed his position and demanded Lula’s acquittal.

“It is therefore prudent to conclude that the prosecution does not have any element which could support, beyond a reasonable doubt, a possible conviction against the accused”, reinforced this Monday the magistrate.

The process is part of “Operation Zealots”, which since 2015 has been investigating suspected irregularities within the CARF, the Treasury department responsible for sanctioning tax evaders, and which has also affected several prominent bankers and politicians.

Lula, who spent 580 days in prison for alleged corruption, was favored this year by a Supreme Court ruling that overturned other sanctions against him and allowed him to restore his political rights.