Brazilian prosecutor asks for Lula´s indictment on corruption charges

A Brazilian federal prosecutor asked for former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s indictment on corruption charges.

The prosecutor, Manoel Pastrana, presented his case to the country’s general attorney for Lula’s involvement on what became known as the "Mensalao" scandal.

The prosecutor accuses Lula of complicity in a bribery scheme that shook the nation in 2005.

“The prosecutor is legally obliged to manifest himself about the inclusion of the former president in the process”, said Pastrana, referring to the procedures against over 40 people accused of “illicit association”. Amongst the accused is one of Lula’s top ministers, Jose Dirceu, who at the time was the president’s top man and Jose Genoino, former Labor Party (PT) leader.

“It is categorically proven that, according to strong evidences, Lula participated in the scheme to favor the BMG Bank which ended up in voluptuous amounts of money in the parties’ accounts”, the prosecuted said. In 2005, most of the Labor Party leaders renounced after the scandal.

The party’s accountant, Delubio Soares, admitted to have received illegal money and was expelled from the party.