Ex- Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 71, was indicted on corruption charges on Wednesday and condemned to about 10 years in jail.
He was found guilty of accepting bribes estimated to about $1.2 million from the Engineering firm OAS SA, which according to prosecutors was the amount the company claimed to have spent in refurbishing his beach apartment in return for his help in winning contracts with state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro (PETR4.SA).
The judgement was a big blow to Lula, one of the nation’s most popular politicians and the front runner expected to win next year’s presidential race. He faces four more corruption trials and will remain free on appeal.
