A demonstrator against Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva holds dolls dressed as an inmate featuring the face of da Silva, outside the National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Brazil's top court could rule as soon as today whether da Silva can stay out of prison while appealing a corruption conviction, a decision that could radically alter October's presidential election in Latin America's largest nation. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Republished April 05, 2018 - 8:58 PM
Original Publication Date April 05, 2018 - 2:31 PM
SAO PAULO - The Latest on the fate of former Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (all times local):
11:55 p.m.
Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been given until Friday afternoon to present himself to federal police in the southern city of Curitiba and begin serving a sentence of 12 years and one month for a corruption conviction.
An arrest issue was ordered by federal judge Sergio Moro Thursday evening.
The warrant came after Brazil's top court, the Supreme Federal Tribunal, voted 6-5 to deny a request by da Silva to stay out of prison while he appealed a conviction that he contends was simply a way to keep him off the ballot in October's presidential election. He is the front-running candidate despite his conviction.
In a statement, Moro said he was giving da Silva the opportunity to come in of his own accord because he had been Brazil's president.
Last year, Moro convicted da Silva of trading favours with a construction company in exchange for the promise of a beachfront apartment. That conviction was upheld by an appeals court in January.
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6:20 p.m.
Federal judge Sergio Moro has issued an arrest warrant for former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Thursday's warrant comes several hours after the country's top court denied a request by da Silva to stay out of prison while he appealed a corruption conviction.
Moro gave da Silva 24 hours to present himself to federal police in the southern city of Curitiba.
Last year, Moro convicted da Silva of trading favours with a construction company in exchange for the promise of a beachfront apartment. That conviction was upheld by an appeals court in January.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018