UN Palestine peace conference suspended amid regional escalation    Egypt advances integrated waste management city in 10th of Ramadan with World Bank support    Hyatt, Egypt's ADD Developments sign MoU for hotel expansion    Serbian PM calls trade deal a 'new page' in Egypt ties    Reforms make Egypt 'land of opportunity,' business leader tells Serbia    TMG climbs to 4th in Forbes' Top 50 Public Companies in Egypt' list on surging sales, assets    Egypt, Japan's JICA plan school expansion – Cabinet    Egypt's EDA, AstraZeneca discuss local manufacturing    Israel intensifies strikes on Tehran as Iran vows retaliation, global leaders call for de-escalation    Egypt issues nearly 20 million digital treatment approvals as health insurance digitalisation accelerates    LTRA, Rehla Rides forge public–private partnership for smart transport    Egyptian pound rebounds at June 16 close – CBE    China's fixed asset investment surges in Jan–May    Egypt secures €21m EU grant for low-carbon transition    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt, Cyprus discuss regional escalation, urge return to Iran-US talks    Egypt nuclear authority: No radiation rise amid regional unrest    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt delays Grand Museum opening to Q4 amid regional tensions    Egypt slams Israeli strike on Iran, warns of regional chaos    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's EDA joins high-level Africa-Europe medicines regulatory talks    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt, Serbia explore cultural cooperation in heritage, tourism    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Egypt launches "Memory of the City" app to document urban history    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Brazil's ex-president Lula detained in anti-graft bust
Reuters Published in Ahram Online on 04 - 03 - 2016

Brazil's federal police detained former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for questioning on Friday in a anti-corruption and money laundering operation and said that illegal gains had financed campaigns and expenses of the ruling Workers Party.
Police said they had evidence that Lula received illicit benefits from the kick-back scheme at state oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) in the form of payments and luxury real estate.
"Ex-president Lula, besides being party leader, was the one ultimately responsible for the decision on who would be the directors at Petrobras and was one of the main beneficiaries of these crimes," a police statement said.
"There is evidence that the crimes enriched him and financed electoral campaigns and the treasury of his political group."
A spokesperson for Lula did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.
Police said they carried out 33 search warrants and 11 arrest warrants in the latest round of the Operation Carwash investigation, including two in Sao Bernardo do Campo, where Lula lives. Some 200 police and 30 auditors from federal tax office took part in the operation on Friday.
Lula's foundation said in a statement on Thursday that the former president had never committed any illegal acts before, during or after his presidential term.
His detention would be the biggest event so far in an investigation of alleged corruption at Petrobras, which has snared lawmakers and some of Brazil's most powerful business executives.
Lula ran Brazil from 2003 to 2010, when prosecutors allege much of the graft took place. His detention would tarnish the reputation of the most beloved leader in Brazil's modern history and threatens the government of his protegee and successor Dilma Rousseff.
Rousseff has also repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Brazilian media reported on Thursday that ruling party Senator Delcidio Amaral, a major legislative ally for Rousseff before he was arrested in November, allegedly tied the president and Lula to the scandal engulfing Petrobras in 400-page plea bargain made with prosecutors.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/190149.aspx

Clic here to read the story from its source.