Brazil’s ex-president Lula charged in money laundering probe
Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, center, leaves a breakfast with senators in Brasilia.
reporting from SAO PAULO, Brazil — Prosecutors in Sao Paulo state have filed money laundering charges against former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is accused of hiding his alleged ownership of a seafront penthouse in the city of Guaruja.
Lula has denied he owns the apartment, which belongs to the construction company OAS. OAS is one of the biggest targets of a separate corruption investigation that focuses on state-run oil giant Petrobras.
The charges filed Wednesday against Lula still need to be accepted by a judge.
In a statement, Lula said that investigators “are not unbiased.” He still has not been heard by the state investigators in the case.
The decision comes days before an anti-government protest Sunday, and five days after Lula was held for questioning and his home raided by police.
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